SANTA PAULA, CA - Limoneira Company has announced that its Harvest at Limoneira Project (formerly Santa Paula East Area 1) has received the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Award of Excellence from the American Planning Association’s California Chapter, Central Coast Section. Limoneira's plan will now move on for consideration in the APA California Chapter state awards this October in Pasadena.

“Limoneira's mission statement involves community development, and we are proud to continue our legacy of stewardship within the Santa Paula community,” said Harold Edwards, Limoneira’s CEO, in a press release. “Responsible community development involves building consensus across all constituencies within a community, and receiving this award from the Central Coast Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA) provides further validation of our success in connecting with the City of Santa Paula as well as the Santa Paula community on a project that benefits everyone.”

The APA California Awards Program is designed to both encourage quality planning and increase the public's awareness of the planning profession. The Santa Paula East Area 1 project (now known as Harvest at Limoneira), received an 81 percent approval from Santa Paula voters in the 2008 S.O.A.R. (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources). This S.O.A.R. vote victory represents the first and only large-scale master-planned community project to obtain the approval of public voters since Ventura County's S.O.A.R. initiative was implemented in 1991, underscoring Limoneira's ability to build consensus within its local community.

“We couldn't be more proud of the partnership we have forged with the City of Santa Paula, Parkstone Companies, Meridian Consultants, Jensen Design & Survey and Sargent Town Planning to create the Santa Paula East Area project, now called The Harvest at Limoneira, and we are thrilled to take the next step towards realizing the buildout of this exciting project,” Edwards continued. “This project has involved years of thoughtful planning and the realization of all our work will now become evident as The Harvest at Limoneira is built.”

David Sargent, who developed the plan for the project following a series of charettes and workshops organized by Penrod, Locacciato, and the community, commented, "Santa Paula has a rich history and citizens who are passionate about their town. Our job was to devise a plan and form-based code to shape new neighborhoods that reflect Santa Paula's authenticity and character and the sustainable place-making principles of New Urbanism."

Harvest at Limoneira features:

• 500-acre master-planned community
• 1500 residential units
• An elementary school
• High school facilities
• 40-acre sports park
• Civic amenities 
• Public safety facilities
• Trails and open space

Work is currently underway to create improved lots, which will be sold to home builders in November 2017, with residential occupancy slated for fall 2018. The project is being developed by Limoneira Lewis Community Builders LLC.

Limoneira