Slow, Thoughtful Growth

Camarillo will continue to change, but I believe growth should be slow, thoughtful, and carefully planned. One of the things residents value most about living here is that Camarillo still feels different from the larger communities around us. We should not lose that simply because there is an opportunity to build.

When I speak with residents, I hear different opinions about individual developments. The new Costco is one example. Some residents wanted it and some did not. That disagreement is healthy. What concerns me more is whether we are looking far enough ahead and asking what Camarillo actually needs before our remaining land is committed.

As available land becomes more limited, every major development decision carries greater consequences. Once land is developed, that opportunity is largely gone. Before approving major projects, I want the City to ask: What does Camarillo need? What will residents need ten or twenty years from now? How will this project affect traffic, infrastructure, local businesses, neighborhoods, and our quality of life?

I have also heard residents question whether additional auto dealerships are the best use of some of Camarillo's remaining developable land. I believe those questions deserve serious consideration and meaningful public discussion before decisions are effectively made.

Public participation should happen early enough to matter. Residents should not feel that they are being asked for input only after a project has already gained momentum.

Growth is sometimes necessary, and good development can strengthen a community. But more development is not automatically better development.

My goal is not to stop Camarillo from changing. It is to make sure we do not grow so quickly—or so carelessly—that we lose the small-community character that makes people want to live here in the first place.