Ventura council adopts historic survey, reclassifies VUSD sites
The 3-2 vote approves the 2025 Citywide Historic Context Statement and directs staff to reclassify VUSD properties to 7R and designate three school district sites as 6Z.
Ventura City Council voted 3-2 on July 14 to adopt the 2025 Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey, a document that inventories the city's historic resources and guides preservation policy. The item was continued from the council's April 28 meeting.
The motion, made by Councilmember Jim Duran and seconded by Councilmember Liz Campos, approved the staff recommendation and further directed staff to reclassify the Ventura Unified School District properties to the 7R designation and to designate the properties at 1052 Ventura Avenue, 6205 Ventura Boulevard, and 1456 Buena Vista Street as 6Z, per the July 14 draft minutes. The council adopted the action as Resolution 2026-48.
Councilmembers Campos, Duran, and Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios voted in favor. Councilmember Bill McReynolds and Deputy Mayor Doug Halter voted no. Councilmembers Alex Mangone and Ryyn Schumacher were absent.
The 2025 Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey identifies properties, districts, and landscapes that reflect Ventura's development patterns. Community Development Director Rachel Dimond presented the item. Staff found the action not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.9 and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15262, per the July 14 draft minutes.
Eleven members of the public spoke on the item: Ahsan Mirza, Pamela Daly, June Roesler, Becky Brookes, Shannon Welch, Jim Monahan, Joanne Monahan, Phillip Fields, Dawn Dyer, Stephen Schafer, and Zach.
The reclassification of the VUSD properties to the 7R designation shifts their zoning within the city's historic preservation framework, while the 6Z designation applies to the three named sites. The council did not specify a timeline for the reclassification.
What comes next: The reclassification of the VUSD properties will proceed as directed by council, with no further council action currently scheduled on the historic context statement.
Sources
- Agenda ID 3669, Item 19 (city council draft minutes)Jul 14, 2026
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