Planning Commission backs countywide Energy and Military Land Use Compatibility Roadmap, forwards amendments to Board
May 21, 2026 | Ventura County, California
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The Ventura County Planning Commission on May 21 recommended the Board of Supervisors approve a package of General Plan and zoning ordinance amendments designed to guide renewable energy siting and protect military operations around Naval Base Ventura County.
Staff described the Energy and Military Land Use Compatibility Roadmap as the next phase of the county's renewable energy program, which codified battery energy storage uses and a 100‑acre acreage limitation in earlier phases and now adds development standards, permit thresholds and a Military Land Use Compatibility (MLUC) overlay. Senior planner Todd Davis told commissioners the package includes standards distinguishing principal (utility‑scale) and accessory (on‑site) energy uses, new planned‑development (PD) and conditional‑use (CUP) permit triggers for projects on certain soils, and incentives such as fee waivers and reduced entitlement fees for qualifying photovoltaic canopies.
The overlay zone, described by Assistant planner Matt Hershberger, "intersects over 9,000 parcels" and is divided into 11 subareas tied to compatibility concerns identified in the Naval Base Ventura County Joint Land Use Study and the Point Mugu Air Installations Compatible Use Zone study. Hershberger said some subareas would prohibit battery storage and solar generation outright, while others would permit discretionary review with Department of Defense consultation for potential impacts on training routes, imaginary surfaces or radio‑frequency operations.
Kendall Lousen, the installation community plans and liaison officer at Naval Base Ventura County, testified in support, saying the overlay and clarifying standards are "a proactive, collaborative solution" that will protect military readiness while enabling regional energy resilience. Developers and consultants who spoke during public comment supported many provisions but urged refinements. Will Christopher Williamson of Wellhead Development asked staff to reconsider narrow local business‑address requirements for emergency contacts and to clarify spacing, undergrounding and pavement standards. Representatives from Cesp Consulting asked the county to allow ministerial zoning clearances for routine capacity maintenance, tighten the link between surety triggers and project risk, and reconsider permit type assignments to maintain the county's streamlining goals.
Commissioners asked staff detailed questions about impacts to industrial zones (M2/M3), lot‑coverage rules that treat battery modules as "buildings" under the zoning code, surety and decommissioning financial assurance for projects sited on agricultural land, and the applicability of accessory heavy‑duty EV charging standards. Staff described precedents: two prior county battery projects (one ~20 acres on agricultural land) informed the proposed surety and restoration requirements and the use of a 30‑year term used in an earlier CUP approval. County Counsel explained that surety amounts typically reflect estimated reclamation costs and are obtained either by bond or letter of credit; staff said insurance and surety requirements are part of the proposed conditions.
After discussion, the commission voted to recommend the Board adopt staff's resolution (case numbers PL240109 and PL240120) but recorded a motion modification asking staff to revisit two items — allowing alternative fuel production in M2/M3 industrial zones and a nonresidential solar‑canopy requirement — noting those program elements are driven by General Plan direction and may require further consideration. The commission's modified motion passed on roll call 5–0. The item is tentatively scheduled for the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 4, 2026; elements that amend the county's local coastal program will be forwarded to the California Coastal Commission for certification later in 2026–2027.
Staff materials and exhibits provided mapping of transmission and distribution lines, overlay‑zone parcel lists, development‑standard tables and a project errata memorandum correcting permit‑type references. The Planning Division noted ongoing coordination with Naval Base Ventura County, the Airport Land Use Commission (which found the package consistent in January 2026) and the California Coastal Commission on coastal program amendments.
The commission closed the hearing and moved to the next agenda item.
Staff described the Energy and Military Land Use Compatibility Roadmap as the next phase of the county's renewable energy program, which codified battery energy storage uses and a 100‑acre acreage limitation in earlier phases and now adds development standards, permit thresholds and a Military Land Use Compatibility (MLUC) overlay. Senior planner Todd Davis told commissioners the package includes standards distinguishing principal (utility‑scale) and accessory (on‑site) energy uses, new planned‑development (PD) and conditional‑use (CUP) permit triggers for projects on certain soils, and incentives such as fee waivers and reduced entitlement fees for qualifying photovoltaic canopies.
The overlay zone, described by Assistant planner Matt Hershberger, "intersects over 9,000 parcels" and is divided into 11 subareas tied to compatibility concerns identified in the Naval Base Ventura County Joint Land Use Study and the Point Mugu Air Installations Compatible Use Zone study. Hershberger said some subareas would prohibit battery storage and solar generation outright, while others would permit discretionary review with Department of Defense consultation for potential impacts on training routes, imaginary surfaces or radio‑frequency operations.
Kendall Lousen, the installation community plans and liaison officer at Naval Base Ventura County, testified in support, saying the overlay and clarifying standards are "a proactive, collaborative solution" that will protect military readiness while enabling regional energy resilience. Developers and consultants who spoke during public comment supported many provisions but urged refinements. Will Christopher Williamson of Wellhead Development asked staff to reconsider narrow local business‑address requirements for emergency contacts and to clarify spacing, undergrounding and pavement standards. Representatives from Cesp Consulting asked the county to allow ministerial zoning clearances for routine capacity maintenance, tighten the link between surety triggers and project risk, and reconsider permit type assignments to maintain the county's streamlining goals.
Commissioners asked staff detailed questions about impacts to industrial zones (M2/M3), lot‑coverage rules that treat battery modules as "buildings" under the zoning code, surety and decommissioning financial assurance for projects sited on agricultural land, and the applicability of accessory heavy‑duty EV charging standards. Staff described precedents: two prior county battery projects (one ~20 acres on agricultural land) informed the proposed surety and restoration requirements and the use of a 30‑year term used in an earlier CUP approval. County Counsel explained that surety amounts typically reflect estimated reclamation costs and are obtained either by bond or letter of credit; staff said insurance and surety requirements are part of the proposed conditions.
After discussion, the commission voted to recommend the Board adopt staff's resolution (case numbers PL240109 and PL240120) but recorded a motion modification asking staff to revisit two items — allowing alternative fuel production in M2/M3 industrial zones and a nonresidential solar‑canopy requirement — noting those program elements are driven by General Plan direction and may require further consideration. The commission's modified motion passed on roll call 5–0. The item is tentatively scheduled for the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 4, 2026; elements that amend the county's local coastal program will be forwarded to the California Coastal Commission for certification later in 2026–2027.
Staff materials and exhibits provided mapping of transmission and distribution lines, overlay‑zone parcel lists, development‑standard tables and a project errata memorandum correcting permit‑type references. The Planning Division noted ongoing coordination with Naval Base Ventura County, the Airport Land Use Commission (which found the package consistent in January 2026) and the California Coastal Commission on coastal program amendments.
The commission closed the hearing and moved to the next agenda item.
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