County seeks to streamline permit process
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

As Ventura County officials seek to reduce delays and costs associated with the granting of discretionary land use permits, property owners say they want the rules to be clearer before they apply for them.

Conditional Use Permits are issued at the discretion of the county for purposes not allowed as a matter of right within a zoning district.

Requirements may vary from one county area to the next because each region has individual issues and needs, said Kim Rodriguez, planning director for the county.

"Ventura County has a reputation of being difficult," said Peter Foy, chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

Although some landowners make illegal improvements, most follow the rules and have legitimate objectives that help sustain the county's economy.

Applicants, who pay more than $150 an hour for services provided by the county, should be guided through the process to expedite matters, Foy said. "They invest a lot of money and when the permit is messed up, they lose a lot."

"People want to feel that there is consistency in the law," said Supervisor Kathy Long, who also supports improved customer service for county residents.

"The issue from the government's side of table is that they want discretion and the ability to say no. But if everything is discretionary, that would be negative to society and people wouldn't invest in Ventura County," said former Thousand Oaks City Attorney Mark Sellers, who now handles private land use matters for local landowners.

"Applying for conditional use permits is challenging. The environmental analysis can take a lot of time and the cost is high," he said.

If proposals have no adverse impacts, Sellers said, permits should be issued as quickly as possible to facilitate business.

The local attorney represents the Tierra Rejada Golf Club in a land use case that illustrates the existing problem.

"The club has been hosting wedding banquets for years, and all of a sudden they are told by the county that if it's not specified in their conditional use permit they can't do it," Sellers said. However, most golf clubs host banquets because they can provide ideal settings for this type of event.

Rodriguez said golf clubs are allowed to host banquets associated with golf activities, but they must obtain a modified permit to host wedding banquets.

While the above matter is now being resolved, Sellers said the system should be more predictable to prevent confusion.

The county's land use regulation system has room for improvement, said Tom Berg, former manager of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency, who was hired by the county to conduct a study of the permitting process.

Berg described his findings at a Board of Supervisors meeting in early April.

"When it comes to private property and government, the most complex and challenging category of land use is discretionary permits," he said. Each permit is issued on a case-by-case basis, which leaves applicants unable to predict what is going to happen.

Berg interviewed applicants, county employees and leaders to find out where improvements can be made.

"Overall, the existing system is not operating as transparently, predictably and accountably as it could or even as it did five years ago," he said.

All agencies involved in the discretionary permit process need to work together to expedite matters, Berg said.

He also recommended that the county should have written procedures to guide permitting actions and customer service should be improved to speed up the process. "Sometimes staff members are not prepared to deal with customers."

County department leaders are open to fixing problems to make things right, said Foy. "It's a process of continuing improvement to find better ways to serve," he said.

"Our employees need to be better than private businesses because the county is a monopoly, so people don't have other places to go for services," said Supervisor Steve Bennett.