Plan Tying Housing to School Space OKd

Despite an eleventh-hour plea from a state building association, the Ventura City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s blueprint for development that will make it illegal to build more homes unless there is enough space in schools for more children.

The vote brought resolution to nearly two years of debate on how best to deal with the issue of cramped schools.

Despite the $81-million school bond measure passed in June that will build two new high schools and a new middle school, the amendment will slow--but not stop--growth in the city.

That fact was not lost on the California Business and Industry Assn., which sent a representative to Monday night’s council meeting to request modifications to the amendment.

Carla K. Ryhal, BIA vice president, asked the council to require that a City Council member sit in on meetings between developers and the school board, the school board be required to publicly announce relevant meetings, and the amendment not apply to annexations and certain other development agreements.

The council wavered, but ultimately remained unmoved.

“We publicized our meetings and the BIA did not show up,” said Councilman Steve Bennett. “We fine-tuned, pushed and pulled. For them to turn up now and try to modify it is not appropriate.”