Ventura Lawmakers Consider Building Moratorium Amid Drought Conditions

VENTURA (CBSLA.com) — Faced with drought conditions, the Ventura City Council is considering a controversial ban on all new construction and new hook-ups to the water system.

On Monday night, residents and lawmakers alike considered the prospect of an emergency moratorium on issuing building permits and water connections in an effort to conserve water.

Judee Hauer, a moratorium supporter, said: "How can we ethically say to our own population that they have to take a backseat to new, residential growth? It doesn't make sense."

But Kioren Moss, an opponent of the moratorium, countered.

"You're not even close to the statutory requirement to even ask for a moratorium and you couldn't defend it if you did," he said.

Three other water districts that cover portions of Camarillo, Montecito and Altadena, in addition to the city of Sierra Madre, already have moratoriums in place.

"The building moratorium would only be on building permits within the city. That's all we can control," said Shana Epstein, General Manager at Ventura Water. "Water connections would encompass everyone that we serve."

But Cheryl Heitmann, the Mayor of Ventura, said: "This may be a little premature to do a total moratorium."

"Certainly, we don't want to give the message to businesses that we're not business-friendly. That we don't want businesses here because I think we do," Heitmann said.

The City Council plans to take a closer look at the issue with another study, the results of which will be presented at a meeting in January.