Adams Canyon Development Project Moves Ahead

On May 8, Santa Paula voters approved Measure A-7 which extended their City Urban Restriction Boundary to include all of Adams Canyon. This canyon, consisting of 10 square miles of farms, ranches and open space, is the westernmost area within the city's Sphere of Influence and will now be the subject of annexation proceedings. Annexation to the city cannot occur unless approved by the Ventura County Local Agency Formation Commission.

Pinnacle Group of Scottsdale, Arizona is the developer. Measure A-7, as approved by voters, would allow up to 495 luxury homes, a resort hotel, and a golf course. The project is not defined in detail and no environmental review has taken place. Pinnacle also has a project in the same area currently undergoing review by Ventura County Planning but we now expect this will be set aside so the city project can proceed.

The upper two-thirds of Adams Canyon contains some of the best wildlife habitat in Ventura County. Friends will be following the Adams Canyon saga very closely in an attempt to secure adequate open space as well as protection for streams, wetlands and other valuable habitats within the canyon. This promises to be a long and difficult process, but the exceptional wildlife habitat values in this canyon demand a strong effort.