Redevelopment project moves forward
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

While construction crews work to finish the final phase of the Old Town beautification project, city officials have turned their attention to the next large-scale redevelopment plan slated for Camarillo.

The Camarillo City Council voted unanimously at last week's council meeting to rezone 55 acres of commercial real estate at the city's heart to allow mixed-use development.

The plan, however, has met with some resistance from area business owners who are frustrated by the city's lack of communication.

The city's goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that uses California mission-style architecture to integrate both homes and businesses. The plan would increase housing density for the proposed area.

Bordered by Ponderosa Drive to the north, Arneill Road to the east, Daily Drive to the south and Mobil Avenue on the west, the project is known as the Camarillo Commons.

By rezoning the area, the city has increased property values for the some 60 individual land owners within the project. Community Development Director Bob Burrow said that the city hopes that by increasing property value the landowners will either upgrade their property or sell it to a real estate developer for renovation.

David Rush, a senior vice president with CB Richard Ellis, said it's difficult to say exactly how much the rezoning increases the worth of the property but that it's likely developers have already begun contacting the individual landowners.

"The properties would be worth more if they are combined because it would give them an opportunity to do a quality development," Rush said.

Burrow said city officials have been planning the Camarillo Commons project since 1996 when the council was looking at a number of long-term plans intended to keep the city healthy.

"If a property owner wants to redevelop their property, this gives them guidance as to how we see that area redeveloping," Burrow said. "We're going to get them new tools for them to consider either building it themselves or they'll probably be approached by people who do this type of development."

To help the more than 60 landowners understand the overall plan, Burrow said the city has hosted a number of public workshops, study session meetings and hearings.

Michelle Sutton, property supervisor for the Ponderosa Shopping Center, the single largest property in the planning area, said the city made no effort to directly contact the center's owner, Jean Elkawass.

"Nobody at all has ever contacted us," Sutton said.

Sutton said the city should have contacted her directly and not sent letters to the center's 45 tenants. "It shook them up a little. They were scared about relocating," Sutton said. The center is anchored by the 99 Cent Only Store.

She said her company has no intention of selling the shopping center which it bought in 2004 and it's unlikely Elkawass would agree to a total renovation that would bring the property in line with the city's master plan.

Burrow said the city was told the total project could take up to 15 years to complete.

"We would like to see it happen a little sooner than that," Burrow said. He added that the redevelopment project would help the city avoid "paving over agricultural fields" to build new housing.

The city has also agreed to underground public utilities and help finance an overall streetscape plan to help tie the development together.