Business View Magazine | November 2019

263 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2019 downtown core. We’re doing our best to provide affordable housing in Ventura County, while meeting state requirements.” “We also have some far-ranging projects planned,” says McSweeney. “We’d like to update our downtown plan and our North Fillmore plan that covers 100 acres and 350 units that we’re beginning to process and hope to have approved by February 2020.” “The North Fillmore Specific Plan is looking at expanding the infrastructure for the sewer lines in that direction,” says Rowlands. “That’ll be on the developer’s agenda. They’re the ones putting the project in; same with all the other projects. Another thing we need to do moving forward is open the ground up to install fiber optics and other forms of connectivity with our current residents and the future businesses coming to town. In terms of our infrastructure, we have a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that’s below capacity and can handle the new projected growth for the city. It was built for a population of 35,000, so there’s plenty of capability out there for a water reclamation plant. It’s now really up to the developer to extend the current utility line to their project to make it work.” “We’re anticipating changes in the surrounding environment for the next 10 years,” says Villegas. “Twenty miles to the east is a major development project in Santa Clarita of 26,000 new homes, which is expected to house 70,000 people, and then another 1,500 homes just 12 miles to the west are being built in Santa Paula. Fillmore is in a time of transition. We’re partnering with our neighbors to form a robust regional economic development strategy.” In addition to building more housing options in Fillmore, the city is also focused on recruiting new business by way of its “Destination Fillmore” strategy. “We used to be considered a city that people would pass through on their way to Ventura or Santa Barbara,” says Villegas. “There’s now a lot more interest in Fillmore. We’re accessible to Los Angeles, so we came up with a plan designed to promote business and expansion to maximize our revenues and enhance the quality of life our residents have. It really focuses on transforming F I LLMORE , CAL I FORNI A