The County of Ventura recently updated their Area Plan for this historic rural community at the east end of the City of Ventura, and through a grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) they retained Sargent Town Planning to prepare a vision plan and development code for the historic Old Town core and neighborhood.
Saticoy began as a packinghouse town on the Santa Paula Branch Line railroad. Following the closing of the packing house, disuse of the rail line, and the bypassing of the town center with a new highway in the 1990’s the economy and general condition of the town has declined. Working closely with County staff and community leaders, Sargent Town Planning conducted a careful evaluation of the existing condition of the street and open space network and building stock, interviewed a range of stakeholders, and led a series of community workshops to identify the most valuable contributions that an updated plan and development standards could make.
The emerging plan emphasized establishing more and better street connections to the highway and internal to Old Town, improving pedestrian facilities which are generally deficient, greening the public realm, and consolidating a small, very walkable mixed-use town center. Standards for preserving and restoring the existing neighborhood are provided, along with standards for new multi-family housing to replace industrial uses adjacent to the town center, and standards for new, robust light industrial uses along the south edge of town.
Following STP's completion of the Old Town Plan and it's acceptance by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, County Staff incorporated it into the larger Saticoy Area Plan, part of the County General Plan. The Area plan was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board in September 2015.
