VENTURA : Land-Use Measures Are Topic of Debate

Environmentalists and representatives from the agricultural community will debate the merits of two Ventura land-use initiatives today at a forum sponsored by five local businesses.

Ventura Councilman Steve Bennett, former Mayor Richard Francis and attorney Susan Goodkin will argue in favor of Measures I and J, which are the so-called Save Our Agricultural Resources, or SOAR, initiatives on the November ballot.

Farm Bureau Executive Director Rex Laird, bureau President Mike Mobley and Ventura farmer Bob Tobias will argue against the initiatives.

Both measures are designed to curb development on farmland in and around the city. If approved, the initiatives would require voter approval for future development projects on land designated for agricultural use.

The Ventura County Farm Bureau opposes the measures because they jeopardize farmers’ property rights, members say. Farmers are also angry that proponents of the initiatives did not consult them when they launched petition drives to qualify the measures.

The debate will be moderated by Ventura Mayor Tom Buford, whose law office is one of the event’s sponsors. Other sponsors are The Gas Co., CalResources, Halsted Communications Inc. and Colony Harbortown Marina Resort, which is where the forum will be held.

The program will begin at 12:15 p.m. and will continue until 1:25 p.m. For reservations or more information, call 652-1505.