CAMARILLO : Zoning Change OKd for Farmers Market

Camarillo is a step closer to having its own Farmers Market.

The City Council has agreed to prepare a zone change that would allow the market to operate on Ventura Boulevard downtown.

Members of the Camarillo Hospice, who will organize and operate the market in conjunction with the Pleasant Valley Hospital Auxiliary, said the market will probably operate Saturdays or Sundays at one of two outdoor locations.

The market will probably open in the fall, said Jane Rozanski, hospice executive director. “We have had nothing but wonderful support from the city staff,” she said. “It’s just a matter of time now.”

The council directed its staff to draft an amendment to the city zoning ordinance to allow the open-air market. At Rozanski’s request, the staff will also look into an ordinance change to allow all vendors at the market to sell their goods under a single business license held by the hospice. Under the existing ordinance, each vendor is required to have a separate business license.

Public hearings will be scheduled before ordinance changes are approved.

Rozanski said organizers would like to use the parking lot of either a county building used by the Public Social Services Agency or Los Primeros School. Both are on Ventura Boulevard.