Farmers Take Legal Aim at Greenbelt Law

A coalition of farmers and property owners is trying to restore its legal challenge to Ventura’s farmland protection law, which forbids developments on greenbelts without the permission of the voters.

Attorneys for the farmers filed a 65-page document this week with the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Ventura, arguing that the law violates their clients’ constitutional rights to vote, privacy and equal protection under the law.

The appeal asks the three-justice panel to reinstate the lawsuit against the city, which was tossed out by a Superior Court judge in July.

The lawsuit attacked Measure I, a greenbelt-protection ordinance adopted by city voters in November. The law puts thousands of acres of farmland in and around Ventura off-limits to any urban expansion until 2030--unless a specific development gets permission from a majority of city voters.

The farmers argue that the law violates their property rights.

“I consider this a form of tyranny of the majority that does not belong in a free society,” said Ronald A. Zumbrun, the farmers’ Sacramento-based attorney.

Ventura City Councilman Steve Bennett said city leaders expected the lawsuit, but are confident the law will withstand any court challenge.

Bennett and other slow-growth advocates closely modeled this law after one adopted by Napa County. That law has been upheld by the California Supreme Court.

“We’ll definitely win,” Bennett said. “The law has been upheld every time the courts have reviewed it. It is unfortunate that they are wasting everybody’s money.”

The farmers also asked the appeals court to expedite the case.