Planning commission approves 3‑story mixed‑use building at 2401 Ventura Boulevard

The Camarillo Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to demolish an existing commercial building and construct a 19,814‑square‑foot, three‑story mixed‑use building at 2401 Ventura Boulevard.

The project, proposed by Charles Allison (CUP‑429), calls for two commercial suites on the ground floor and 10 apartments on the second and third floors, including three affordable units (two low‑income and one moderate‑income) that will be subject to a recorded affordable housing covenant for 55 years. Staff recommended the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Class 32 infill exemption and asked the commission to adopt Resolution PC2025‑6 approving the permit with conditions; the commission voted to adopt the resolution.

Why it matters: the proposal adds market‑rate housing and a small affordable component in Camarillo Old Town while invoking a state density bonus that affects local development standards and required parking. The commission’s approval advances a project that planners say helps housing goals but also prompted public concerns about parking, pedestrian safety and construction impacts.

Project details and approvals The proposed building would be Spanish‑style in architecture, roughly 30–35 feet tall (with permitted architectural exceptions), and include a small ground‑floor trash enclosure and a rooftop attic element. Staff described the site as backing onto an alley and a freeway off‑ramp and noted the property’s early construction (circa 1912), historically known as the “old plumbing building.” A historical resource assessment by…