VCC Against Mega Gas

06/17/2024

Good summary of why we had to take action, and hold the City of Camarillo accountable for not doing their job and for putting the interests of massive corporations above those of residents and the environment!

Tying a proposed Costco to wildfires and congestion, a group that filed a lawsuit to vacate the Camarillo City Council’s approval of the membership superstore

06/09/2024

We are happy to report that our efforts and concerns about the controversial Costco and mega gas station in Camarillo made the news! Its a shame that the City was unwilling to do the right thing, and require that an EIR be conducted to assess the many impacts this development will have on our community and the environment. We are far from done fighting for our community and holding the City accountable for putting corporations before residents!

Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas filed a lawsuit this spring, challenging the city’s approval of the Costco.

02/22/2024

We are not opposed to Costco coming to Camarillo but not as proposed, and without the proper environmental studies and mitigations in place to offset the very real negative impacts it will have on traffic, pollution, the environment, wildlife and residents' quality of life. They should have to play by the same rules as everyone else who wants to do business in our community!

Costco Wholesale is coming to Camarillo, joining other locations serving Ventura County residents in Oxnard, Simi Valley and Westlake Village. But the retail giant’s move into Camarillo did not come

02/20/2024

We are sad to report that last week, the Camarillo City Council ignored the concerns and public safety of hundreds of residents that live near the site of the controversial Costco and Amara shopping center, and denied our reasonable request that an EIR be conducted, so that residents and the City would know the true impacts that this project will have on traffic, pollution, the environment and other businesses in the area, before anything is built. We may have lost a battle but not the war to hold the City accountable for approving massive projects such as this without doing adequate research, studies and mitigations to offset impacts. We have no choice but to fight on. More information to follow soon!

This content is only available to subscribers.Get unlimited digital access.$1 for 6 months.Your subscription supports:Investigative reporting that makes our community a better place to work, live and playExpert coverage of high school sports teamsThe best tips on places to eat and things to doDaily....

02/13/2024

SPEAK OUT and GET INVOLVED! The Camarillo City Council has scheduled a public hearing and vote on the controversial Costco and Amara shopping center development this Weds, February 14th, at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Library Community Room, 4101 Las Posas Rd. in Camarillo. We strongly encourage you to attend and share your concerns about the project in person (2-3 minutes max). Anyone can attend and participate.

You can also submit your written comments to the City Council NOW by going to www.cityofcamarillo.org/publiccomment Be sure to include the Date of the Hearing (Feb. 14, 2024), the Agency (City Council), Item Type (Agenda Item), your Position (Oppose, Support or NA), your Comments about the project (cut and paste into the text box provided and/or upload a letter), your contact information, and then click on the required box and the SUBMIT button. Written comments need to be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on February 14th.

02/12/2024

Check out this great Letter in the Ventura County Star about the controversial Costco development in Camarillo and the need for an EIR!

Letters to editor: Independent report needed on gas station
On Dec. 5, 2023, the Planning Commission approved Costco’s proposal for its mega 32-pump station. Rather than requiring an Environmental Impact Report, the commission based its decision on a Second Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration requiring minimum study and analysis.

The Planning Commission’s approval was not unanimous. One of the members with apparent expertise in environmental matters had carefully analyzed Costco’s proposal and questioned Costco’s spokesman on potential environmental harm. The incisive questioning raised enough doubt to conclude that it is not only reasonable but responsible that the city conduct an independent, unbiased Environmental Impact Report.

Costco’s own consultant concluded that the Costco project and an anticipated Amara shopping center next to Costco would result in 31,157 daily vehicle trips. The inhabitants of this city have a right to find out how this increase in traffic and resultant vehicle emissions will affect emergency response times, pollution, and public safety. The city can fulfill its duty to protect us by requiring an independent Environmental Impact Report.
Joan H, Camarillo

Letters include the need for independent Environmental Impact Report on proposed Costco 32-pump station; and support for Stephenson for supervisor.

02/02/2024

As you know, a developer has submitted plans to build a new 163,177 sq. ft. Costco warehouse, tire center, and 32 pump mega gas station, with 901 parking spaces, on 12 acres of open space at the corner of Springville Drive and W. Ventura Blvd. in Camarillo- across from Home Depot and less than 5 miles from the Costco in Oxnard. Plans also call for building an additional 335,823 square feet of new commercial retail, directly across from Costco, as “phase two” of the overall 48-acre development.

Following the unelected Planning Commission’s questionable approval of the development in December, we had no choice but to file an appeal to the Camarillo City Council, who will now review and vote on the matter at a public hearing on Wednesday, February 14th at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Library Community Room, 4101 Las Posas Rd. in Camarillo (City Hall is undergoing renovations).

We strongly encourage you to please attend the hearing and to share your concerns about the project with the Council. We think that it is not only reasonable, but responsible, to demand that the city require that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be conducted, so that neighbors will know the true impacts this project will have on their daily lives and on traffic, emergency response times, pollution (air, water, noise and light), public safety, wildlife and birds that live on the property, and for existing businesses and jobs in the surrounding neighborhood. The City is only requiring approval of a Second Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration, which requires minimal study and analysis. In fact, an EIR for this 48- acre parcel has not ever been required since even before it was rezoned from farmland way back in 2007- over 16 years ago! It is long overdue and needed.

You can and should also submit your written comments to the City Council NOW by going to www.cityofcamarillo.org/publiccomment Be sure to include the Date of the Hearing (Feb. 14, 2024), the Agency (City Council), Item Type (Agenda Item), your Position (Oppose, Support or NA), your Comments about the project (cut and paste into the text box provided and/or upload a letter), your contact information, and then click on the required box and the SUBMIT button. Written comments need to be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on February 14, 2024. You can also email your comments to the City Council at [email protected].

We want to thank you for your support and hope to see you at the Council meeting on February 14th at 5PM!

12/22/2023

Thank you for your support over this last year. We will have more to report on next week about the controversial Costco project (it was appealed to the City Council) but in the meantime, want to take the time to wish all of our supporters a Happy Holiday and a Bright New Year!

12/07/2023

Here is the Star's lazy take on the Planning Commission's poor decision to approve the Costco development with no EIR or meaningful mitigations to offset project impacts. They give a lot of air time to the one literal person who showed up to voice support for the development, but to none of the many more who spoke and eloquently stated why this project needs more review and an EIR. Not a surprise, but disappointing coverage nonetheless if you took the time to actually be there and read the reports. Please ignore the misleading headline, the project is far from being a done deal or being built next year. More to come...

Camarillo Planning Commissioners gave the green light to a planned Costco store and gas station Tuesday.

12/06/2023

Costco UPDATE: We want to thank everyone who came out last night and who submitted comments to the Planning Commission. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 to approve the controversial Costco project in Camarillo, after a marathon meeting and overly long presentations by planning staff and the developer's team. The sole vote in opposition was Commissioner Gladys Limon who appeared to be the only Commissioner last night to have thoroughly studied and reviewed the project materials and the many comments that we and others submitted, expressing concerns about this development and the reasonable request, and need, for an EIR. Only one person spoke in support of the project, all others were in opposition.

In terms of next steps, unless the Council calls the project up for their own review and approval, as they should do, an appeal will be filed to ensure that our elected officials do their job and review this development and our many valid concerns about it- and the need for an EIR! More information to come. Follow us here on Facebook or send us an email at [email protected] to learn more and to get involved!

12/05/2023

REMINDER! PUBLIC HEARING for Controversial Costco and Shopping Center TODAY, DEC. 5th 6:30PM at Camarillo City Hall!

The Camarillo Planning Commission has scheduled the sole public meeting and vote on the controversial Costco and Amara shopping center development for Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo. We strongly encourage you to attend and share your concerns about the project in person (2-3 minutes max). Anyone can attend and participate.

You can also submit your written comments to the Planning Commission NOW by going to www.cityofcamarillo.org/publiccomment. Be sure to include the Date of the Hearing (Dec. 5, 2023), the Agency (Planning Commission), Item Type (Agenda Item), your Position (Oppose, Support or NA), your Comments about the project (cut and paste into the text box provided and/or upload a letter), your contact information, and then click on the required box and the SUBMIT button. Written comments need to be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on December 5, 2023. You can also email the City Council at [email protected] and ask that they take this matter up for review and for a vote, as our elected representatives should!

Join with us on December 5th in demanding that the city require that an EIR be conducted, and significant mitigations from Costco, to lessen major impacts this project will have on traffic, commute and emergency response times, pollution (air, water, noise and light), public safety, the environment and on existing businesses and jobs in the surrounding neighborhoods!

For more information and to get involved email [email protected] or follow us here on Facebook.

11/29/2023

PUBLIC HEARING for Controversial Costco and Shopping Center TUES. DEC. 5th 6:30PM at Camarillo City Hall
--SPEAK OUT and GET INVOLVED--
The Camarillo Planning Commission has scheduled the sole public meeting and vote on the controversial Costco and Amara shopping center development for Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo. We strongly encourage you to attend and share your concerns about the project in person (2-3 minutes max). Anyone can attend and participate.

You can also submit your written comments to the Planning Commission NOW by going to www.cityofcamarillo.org/publiccomment. Be sure to include the Date of the Hearing (Dec. 5, 2023), the Agency (Planning Commission), Item Type (Agenda Item), your Position (Oppose, Support or NA), your Comments about the project (cut and paste into the text box provided and/or upload a letter), your contact information, and then click on the required box and the SUBMIT button. Written comments need to be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on December 5, 2023. You can also email the City Council at [email protected] and ask that they take this matter up for review and for a vote, as our elected representatives should!

Join with us on December 5th in demanding that the city require that an EIR be conducted, and significant mitigations from Costco, to lessen major impacts this project will have on traffic, commute and emergency response times, pollution (air, water, noise and light), public safety, the environment and on existing businesses and jobs in the surrounding neighborhoods!

For more information and to get involved email [email protected] or follow us here on Facebook.