Master planning the area is just the first step: when the process is complete the plan must going through different levels of approval, including the City Council and LAFCO.Citizen involvement and input will be a focus of master planning: “We will invite everyone to participate and probably a few more. . .it’s going to be a wide-open process. Anyone who has an opinion or an idea, we’re looking forward to hearing what they are.”The property is not within the city’s urban development boundary and will require voter approval.“Our goal is that voters will see a measure on the ballot in two years,” noted Edwards.Limoneira, founded in Santa Paula in 1893, has grown into a diversified land, farming, property management and food company with 7,000 acres of agricultural land holdings – primarily lemons, avocados, oranges and specialty citrus crops - throughout the state.Those early farsighted growers who created Limoneira also include many of the founders of Santa Paula and Ventura County.
Limoneira Co. moving ahead with enterprising development plans
April 07, 2004
Santa Paula News
Limoneira Company is moving ahead with its enterprising development plans for East Area 1 and has selected a real estate advisory firm, according to the citrus giant’s top executive.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesLimoneira Company is moving ahead with its enterprising development plans for East Area 1 and has selected a real estate advisory firm, according to the citrus giant’s top executive.Limoneira Pres./CEO Harold Edwards said that the addition of Parkstone Companies “to the Limoneira team contributes a valuable component of expertise and leadership to the Santa Paula community’s master planning process.”Such master planning will benefit Limoneira as well as the citizens of Santa Paula and Ventura County, and Limoneira’s Board of Directors is “confident that the experience of Parkstone principals Mike Penrod and Ross Beal will provide great results for our community.”Edwards is “really excited about the momentum building in Santa Paula, we’re pulling together a lot of thoughts and ideas,” on potential use of the approximately 400 acres on the eastern boundary of the city that will “create new opportunities to enhance the quality of life in Santa Paula.”The City Council had approved a Letter of Cooperation with the 111-year-old citrus giant, and “our board of directors also enthusiastically endorsed it,” noted Edwards.Edwards has been working with City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz and preparation is underway to retain economic advisors as well as to study potential land-use from “from Haun Creek to Santa Paula Creek, subject to evaluation that meets with the approval of all property owners. It is our hope that we’ll see the economic assessment completed by July,” when it is also expected that the decision to launch master planning will be finalized.
