Santa Paula voters have faced a series of contentious and divisive land-use votes the last two years.

In 2007, they voted to bring 6,578 acres of Adams Canyon on the city's west end into the city urban restriction boundary, allowing a maximum of 495 homes. In 2006, they rejected a plan for 2,155 homes in nearby Fagan Canyon.

All the while, for the past five years, the city's founding company, Limoneira, has been collecting public input and crafting the best development proposal of them all — for 501 acres at the eastern edge of Santa Paula.

The Star recommends a yes vote on Measure G in Santa Paula, which extends the city's urban restriction boundary from Santa Paula Creek east to Haun Creek. The Santa Paula City Council and Planning Commission have unanimously endorsed the measure.

Open space, parkland, office/retail space

The so-called East Area One is bounded on the east by Haun Creek, on the west by Santa Paula Creek and on the south by Highway 126. That is the site of the Teague-McKevett Ranch at Hallock Drive and Highway 126, for which 1,500 homes are planned in a development that includes 220 acres of open space, 89 acres of active parkland, 210,000 square feet of office/retail and 150,000 square feet of light industrial.

Traffic impacts to Santa Paula are few as the development abuts Highway 126.

It is to Limoneira Co.'s credit that there is no organized opposition to Measure G. The company, which cultivates 7,000 acres — about 4,000 of them in Ventura County — had its start in Santa Paula in 1893, founded by Wallace L. Hardison and Nathan W. Blanchard. Over the years, it merged with other agricultural enterprises and several of the city's founding families' descendants still have a stake in the company.

The Teague-McKevett Ranch was purchased by C.C. Teague and Charles McKevett in 1908. It joined with Limoneira in 1992.

Stewardship part of mission

Because Limoneira Co. is literally home-grown and continues to thrive in Santa Paula, it does not fit the mold of hit-and-run developers out to squeeze in as many houses for as much profit as possible before leaving town. How many developers can say, as Limoneira CEO Harold Edwards does, that, "stewardship is part of our mission for 115 years"?

Limoneira Co. gets Santa Paula.

It gets that Santa Paula does not want a separate, gated, luxury development. To that end, it is purposely not calling its development anything other than a continuation of Santa Paula.

It gets that Santa Paula does not want cookie-cutter houses crammed together.

It gets that Santa Paula embraces the walkable, livable, energy-efficient communities that too many other developers have offered in name only.

It gets that history matters in Santa Paula and so is preserving the historic pump house on the property, some original ranch homes and is promoting architecture that reflects the mix of styles already in Santa Paula, including providing alleyways, so garages do not dominate the fronts of houses.

The mix of housing includes entry-level, work-force housing all the way up to quarter-acre, high-end housing.

Plenty of amenities

Among the amenities offered in this development are:

— 40 percent of the land, 220 acres, preserved as agriculture and open space. The hilltops north of the neighborhood and the hilltops, most visible from the highway, will remain in agricultural production and a recreational trail will run along the development's edge.

— Space for a high school, community center and postsecondary education institution, along with $6.5 million for upgrades to Isbell Middle School.

— A new elementary school.

— $4 million for a new fire station and equipment.

— A police substation.

— Athletic fields, some that could be ready for this summer's soccer season.

— $5.5 million toward the cost of the new wastewater treatment plant.

— 100 subsidized work-force housing.

— $6.5 million contribution to the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The development is planned for a 25-year buildout in phases, although it could be completed in as many as 10 years, depending on economic factors.

Santa Paula is fortunate to have a development proposal of this quality that will help spur economic development on the current east end of Santa Paula, provide a needed mix of housing, increase the number of much-needed parks and recreational fields and provide public open space for Santa Paulans to bike and hike in the beautiful Santa Clara River Valley.

Mr. Hardison and Mr. Blanchard established firm roots in Santa Paula. One-hundred-and-fifteen years later, their dream is still being realized.