City of Camarillo
City Council Meeting
August 12, 2026
Draft Vision & Guiding Principles Review
• Report on status of the General Plan Update
• Present the Draft Vision and Guiding Principles for City Council acceptance
Objectives
Presentation Outline
• Project background
• Community engagement recap
• Draft Vision & Guiding Principles
• Next Steps
General Plan Background
What is a General Plan?
Camarillo’s General Plan will:
• Serve as the guide for decision-makers and developers on how and where development should happen
• Identify the city’s assets and challenges and describe a vision for the future • Recommend the type and character of development appropriate for different areas
• Identify necessary transportation and infrastructure improvements • Include goals, policies, actions, and recommended resources to achieve the Plan’s vision
• Blueprint for urban
development and conservation
• Provides a 25-year framework
for Camarillo’s future
• Addresses issues affecting
quality of life
• 7 statutorily required elements
• Option to add elements
addressing topics of local
importance:
• CURB
• Community Character/Design
What is a General Plan?
required
elements
7 Hierarchy of Planning Documents
Specific Plans,
Master Plans
General Plan
Zoning Ordinance
Design Standards
Capital Improvements
High Level View
Detailed View
• General Plan is the
City's primary long
range planning
document
• Implemented through
a variety of
mechanisms
• By law specific plans
and zoning must be
consistent with
General Plan
Changing Factors and Emerging Issues
SOCIAL AND
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES:
• Aging population
• Increased diversity
• Millennial needs
ECONOMIC CHANGES:
• Shift to internet
retail
• Changing
office/workspaces
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES:
• Autonomous vehicles
• Ride-sharing/transportation
apps
• “Smart city” technology
GLOBAL ISSUES:
• Climate Change
• Adaptation &
mitigation
NEW STATE LAWS
Project Timeline
Visioning and
Issue/Opportunity
Identification
Alternatives
Exploration
Draft Plan
Preparation
Adoption &
Finalization
Kick Off
Aug
Decision-
maker
meetings
Preliminary
Alternative
Plans
Final
Alternative
Plans
Preferred Plan
and Key
Strategies
2025 2026 2027
Public Review
Draft GP/EIR
Released
Final
EIR/MMRP
Draft
TBR
TBR
Released
Decision-
maker
meetings
Adoption
Hearings
Adopted
GP
Sept Jun Jul SeptFeb Jun
Vision/Guiding
Principles
Stakeholder
Interviews
Survey
Admin
Draft
GP/EIR
Workshops
GPAC #1/2/3 GPAC #4/5 GPAC #6/7/8
WorkshopsStakeholder
Interviews
Survey
Workshops
Aug
2028
TBR: Technical Background Report
GP: General Plan
EIR: Environmental Impact Report
MMRP: Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program
GPAC: General Plan Advisory Committee
Role and Purpose of the Vision and Guiding Principles
• Foundational step for General Plan,
identifying key themes and priorities
• Describe a shared image of the
kind of place Camarillo residents and
businesses would like their city to be
in 2050
• Intended as broad, aspirational
statements that will inform more specific,
detailed language of goals and policies
developed later in the process
• Phase 2 will explore options and
alternatives that can help achieve vision
Outreach Recap
Sources of Community Input
Resident Input
Focus Groups
General Plan Advisory
Committee
• Engaged a broad cross-section
of the community
• Digital and in-person events
• Over 850 community members
shared ideas that have informed
the Draft Vision and Guiding
Principles
• 15 Camarillo residents
with a range of
backgrounds/expertise
• Serve as a sounding
board to ensure range of
voices and interests are
heard/considered
• Act as ambassadors for
the project, raising
awareness in the
community
• One of several avenues
for input to City Council
General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC)
Pop Up Outreach
• Summer Concerts in the Park, Constitution Park
• Camarillo Christmas Parade & Santa’s Village
• Camarillo Glow Holiday Walk
• Rolling Pin Donuts
• Mini workshop at Leisure Village
• Old Town Farmer’s Market
• Dizdar Park Grand Opening
• “Love Your Planet” Earth Day Event
• Pleasant Valley Lions Club Carnival
• Deeply Rooted Mother’s Day Vendor Fair
• Business Advocacy Committee of West Ventura County
Business Alliance
• Las Personas Community Academy
• Teen Advisory Board
• Pleasant Valley School District Tour
• Adolfo Camarillo High School Video and Film Class
Community Open House Events
• Community Workshop series
(200+ attendees)
• March 24, 2026 – Camarillo Public Library
• March 28, 2026 – Ranch House
• Attendees rotated through five
themed stations to engage with
staff and provide feedback on
vision, mobility, and growth
Online Survey
• Online Survey was live from
February 2026 through May
2026
• Robust promotional
campaign led to 401
detailed survey responses
Photo Contest & Teen Video Contest
• Photo contest received
14 submissions
• Teen Video Contest
received 7 submissions
Who We Heard From - Survey Demographics
Age
Gender
District
Time in
Camarillo
Key Themes
What respondents like most about living in Camarillo
Community Priorities
Most important priorities for the next 25 years
Draft Vision and Guiding
Principles
Draft Vision Statement
Camarillo is a welcoming, close-knit community shaped by its small-town character, agricultural heritage, natural beauty, excellent schools and parks, and relaxed quality of life. As the city looks to the future, Camarillo will preserve the qualities that make it distinctive while thoughtfully planning for the needs of future generations.
Responding to the demands of a changing region, Camarillo will grow responsibly by focusing new housing, jobs, services, and public spaces in strategic locations within the urban boundary, while protecting surrounding agricultural lands, open space, and scenic resources. The prioritization of high-quality infill development, vibrant gathering places, resilient infrastructure, and a connected transportation network will support a thriving economy and enhance daily life for residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities.
Camarillo will continue to be an inclusive community that residents feel proud to call home, where everyone feels connected and safe – rooted in its history, guided by sustainability and fiscal responsibility, and prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of the coming decades.
Community
& People
Nature
& Place
Livability &
Economic
Vitality
Mobility &
Connections
Draft Guiding Principles – Organizing Themes
Draft Guiding Principles: COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE
• SMALL TOWN CHARACTER. Preserve and strengthen the qualities that make Camarillo feel community- focused and rooted in tradition with a strong local identity – its relaxed pace of life, distinctive neighborhoods, attractive public spaces, and thriving local businesses. Build a sense of belonging and civic pride by facilitating opportunities for the community to come together at festivals, cultural events, sports leagues, and recreational activities.
• SAFE, WELCOMING CITY. Prioritize public safety and promote well-maintained buildings and public spaces that create an inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors. Promote well-designed, well- maintained, and accessible amenities in parks and public places to serve seniors, families, youth, and residents of all ages and abilities.
• CARING AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY. Strengthen Camarillo’s culture of neighborliness, respect, and community connection. Foster transparency, open dialogue, inclusion, and trust between the City and the community; expand opportunities for residents to participate meaningfully in civic life; and help create opportunities for residents to give back to their community by volunteering their time, energy, and skills.
Reinforce the role of civic groups, non-profits, and service organizations in community life. • HISTORY, ARTS, AND CULTURE. Celebrate Camarillo’s history, agricultural heritage, and cultural identity while supporting local arts, public art, and cultural events. Facilitate accessible gathering spaces and community activities that bring people together and make arts, culture, and civic engagement part of everyday life.
Draft Guiding Principles: NATURE AND PLACE
• RESPONSIBLE GROWTH. Guide growth in a way that protects Camarillo’s quality of life, agricultural heritage, natural open spaces, and scenic setting while recognizing our role in addressing regional opportunities and challenges. Encourage sustainable, well-planned development within the urban limit; prioritize the efficient use of land and infrastructure; and champion careful stewardship of energy, water, and natural resources.
• MODERN, RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE. Strategically invest in infrastructure, utilities, and community facilities that support daily life, economic vitality, public health and safety, and long-term sustainability. Embrace technology and innovation that helps provide for improved cellular coverage, power reliability, and climate resilience and serve other community needs. • COHESIVE COMMUNITY DESIGN. Foster diverse neighborhoods, distinctive gathering places, and thriving businesses districts with an emphasis on quality design, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. Attractive gateways, prominent public art, tree-lined streets, and climate-adapted landscaping help build a unifying sense of place.
• HEALTHY, GREEN CITY. Integrate nature, shade, parks, and green spaces into the fabric of the community to support public health, environmental sustainability, and everyday quality of life. Expand access to parks, trails, trees, and natural areas so that residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities can benefit from places that support physical activity, mental well-being, cooling, cleaner air, and connection with others. Encourage community gardens, trails, bird- and pollinator-friendly landscaping, a climate- adapted urban forest, and green spaces to foster a greater connection with the natural environment.
Draft Guiding Principles: LIVABILITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY • BALANCED LOCAL ECONOMY. Leverage Camarillo’s convenient location, educated workforce, high quality of life, and desirable amenities to expand local employment options, especially higher-paying jobs that allow more residents to live and work in Camarillo. Partner with businesses and higher educational institutions to build on the strong base of employment in key sectors like advanced manufacturing, defense/aerospace, life sciences, healthcare, retail/hospitality, agriculture/ag-technology, and professional services to cultivate a resilient local economy with a greater mix of thriving businesses and entertainment uses; diverse services; and opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation, and long-term economic vitality. • ATTAINABLE AND DIVERSE HOUSING. Work to achieve a balanced mix of housing options that meets the needs of individuals, families, seniors, students, workers, and people of all incomes and backgrounds. Encourage pathways to homeownership, housing choices for younger generations, and innovative approaches that allow residents to remain in Camarillo through different stages of life.
• VIBRANT GATHERING PLACES. Foster a network of community gathering places at different scales throughout the community. Position Camarillo's shopping centers as neighborhood hubs with a variety of recreational and entertainment options, daily services, and outdoor dining and activities to take advantage of pleasant local weather. Promote parks, public plazas, civic spaces, recreational facilities and other places as a core setting for informal public life. • DESTINATION OLD TOWN. Strengthen Old Town as a distinctive destination for art, culture, entertainment, and community life, anchored by its charming historic buildings; walkable streets; inviting gathering spaces; and thriving locally-owned restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues.
Support Old Town revitalization, improved access and connectivity, streetscape enhancements, and design strategies that reduce the impacts of the freeway.
Draft Guiding Principles: LIVABILITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY • CONNECTED CAMARILLO. Promote a balanced, efficient, and reliable multi-modal transportation network that connects people to homes, jobs, schools, parks, shopping, services, and regional destinations. Improve mobility choices while maintaining safe and convenient vehicle travel, strengthening connections across the city, and supporting access to key destinations in the city and the wider region with a variety of safe, convenient options for getting around. • ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. Provide safe, well-maintained bicycle and pedestrian routes to key destinations designed to support active lifestyles for people of all ages and abilities. Encourage walking, biking, and active lifestyles through connected pedestrian and bicycle networks, multi-use trails, high- visibility crosswalks, shade trees, traffic-calming improvements, and inviting streetscapes. • STREETS FOR PEOPLE. Design streets to support safety, mobility, economic vitality, and placemaking, recognizing the need to match roadway design to the character and function of surrounding neighborhoods, commercial districts, and corridors. Anticipate changing mobility needs and embrace technology and strategies that facilitate safe, convenient connections.
Draft Guiding Principles: MOBILITY AND CONNECTIONS
1. Does the content accurately reflect community
priorities as you understand them?
2. Is there anything that should be added or removed?
3. Would you recommend any refinements to better
reflect community priorities?
Desired Feedback
Recommended
Refinements
• Use more active, aspirational language that emphasizes excitement, excellence, intentionality, and civic pride
• Strengthen references to cultural diversity, inclusivity, volunteerism, and community connection
• Acknowledge state laws regarding development while reinforcing responsible growth and protection of "small-town feel”
• Expand mobility concepts to address transit-hub opportunities, Old Town connections, and context-sensitive roadway design
• Broaden infrastructure and sustainability concepts to address heat, drought, flooding, and water quality.
• Strengthen economic vitality language by referencing key sectors and partnership opportunities, including CSUCI.
GPAC Feedback on Draft Vision/Guiding Principles
• Reviewed Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles on June 18, 2026
• Expressed support for advancing the document to the
Planning Commission and City Council
• Requested continued focus in the next phase on:
• Workforce housing, especially for early-career workers • Expanded outreach to Spanish-speaking communities
• These topics will be carried forward into the alternatives phase and future policy development
EDLUC Feedback on Draft Vision/Guiding Principles
• Planning Commission reviewed the Vision & Guiding Principles June 30 and recommended advancing it to the
City Council for review
• Overall, Commissioners expressed support - particularly for focus on mobility, connectivity, and activities for youth
• Emphasized that small town character comes in part from quality of design, buildings that reflect history and heritage • Appreciated the community outreach completed so far and encouraged a greater focus on engaging newer community
members in future phases
Planning Commission Feedback
• Pop up presence at Summer
Concert series
• Draft Vision & Guiding
Principles posted to project
website for community
feedback
Summertime Community Engagement
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that acceptance of the Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles for the Our Camarillo 2050 General Plan Update is exempt from CEQA
because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the action may have a significant effect on the environment;
2. Review and provide feedback on the Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles for the Our Camarillo 2050 General Plan Update; and
3. Accept the Draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles as the policy foundation for the next phase of the General Plan Update, subject to any revisions directed by the City Council.
Staff Report Recommendations