The Department of Community Development administers and implements state and local planning and zoning laws, the city's
General Plan
and Specific Plans, the subdivision and sign ordinances and assists in coordinating economic development activities. The department reviews each site-specific development application, whether commercial, indus-trial or residential, to ensure that the uses meet the city's architectural, landscaping and development standards. Each project is reviewed to assess its compliance with the City's growth ordinance as well as applicable state and federal environmental guide-lines. The
Monthly Report is a listing of the current and pending projects within the city. The Department is also involved with special events, regional planning, open space and redevelopment programs.
Guided by Department Director Dave Norman, the Department has responsibility for a wide variety of programs and duties. Among these are the over-sight of
Building and Safety Department and the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is funded by the Depart-ment of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG funds are used to address the needs of families, senior citizens and the homeless, as well as economic development and housing programs. The use of CDBG funds is guided by the
Consolidated Plan Action Plan. The CDBG funds are annually distributed by the City Council based on community need.
The department shares responsibility for enforcement of the City's Municipal Code with the Camarillo Police Department. A staff supervisor and three officers focus primarily on nuisance, health and safety ordinances (e.g., graffiti, noise and abandoned vehicles), responding to citizen requests for service and traveling throughout the City on a regular basis to ensure that established standards for residential, commercial and industrial areas are maintained.
Planning staff provides information and guidance to, and performs research for, the Planning Commission, which is comprised of five City Council appoint-ees. It is the commission's job to review and approve or make recommendations to the City Council on various applica-tions, including requests for annexation, subdivision development, requests and amendments to Zoning Ordinances, the General or Specific Plans.
The Camarillo City Council, acting as the Community Development Commission, implemented redevelopment projects and programs, such as revitalization efforts in Old Town. In 2011, the State of California eliminated redevelopment. The City continues to play a role as Successor Agency in completing pre-existing redevelopment activities and implementing procedures for future use of former redevelopment properties. The department is staff to the Successor Agency, a seven-member Oversight Board and makes recommendations to a Citizens Advisory Committee on redevelopment activities. The City will continue to encourage infill development, adaptive re-use, and private redevelopment consistent with plans, goals and objectives of the City.
