County denies tree removal appeal
by Chris Wilson

Despite an emotional appeal by William Kaddis and his attorney, and a last-minute $40 million lawsuit against the county of Ventura attempting to force a continuance, the Planning Commission of Ventura County voted unanimously to deny an appeal of violations levied against him by the county planning director.
The decision holds Kaddis responsible or liable for the downing of 301 state-protected oak trees and illegal grading on a 44-acre parcel near Rancho Matilija. Commission chair Michael Wessner stated several times that this was an administrative hearing and not a court of law.
Kaddis has 10 days to file an appeal to the decision with the County Board of Supervisors. During a break from the three-hour meeting, he said he would take the matter to court if he had to.
County planning official Scott Ellison presented his report, which included before-and-after aerial photographs showing the destruction to the property. The county staff report notes that Kaddis told Manager of County Zoning Administration Todd Collart by phone that he received anonymous racist hate mail and that the tree clearing may have been a hate crime against him. Kaddis denied any involvement in the oak and brush clearing at his property. He said he has been mistreated by the county staff and by his neighbors at the Baldwin Road property.
Kaddis raised his voice and banged his fingers on the lectern. "I live a clean life," he hollered. "I have never been convicted of anything. I am equal with you. I can stand head to head and toe to toe with any of you. I am an American just like any of you."
Kaddis crossed himself repeatedly and told to the commission that he had been treated with hate and prejudice.
While the zoning violations are on hold and in the appeal process, Kaddis also has filed for a conditional use permit to keep 37 dogs on the property. That CUP is currently in process, but, Ellison said, would be invalidated if Kaddis is found to be in violation of the zoning ordinance regarding the oak trees and earth work.
During the hearing, Kaddis argued that he loved both nature and animals and that's why he's keeping the dogs on the property to keep them from being euthanized. He said he'd rescued them from a bad situation in Lancaster.
Kaddis said he had been a U.S. citizen for 31 years and that he was Egyptian-American, Catholic, and works as a real estate broker.
Ellison noted, with the aid of an overhead photograph, that the property was situated in "an interesting neighborhood."
Ellison pointed to the Rancho Matilija development, the Farmont Golf Course property and the road that leads to John Taft's Center for Earth Concerns property, all of which sit side by side just across Baldwin Road from the Kaddis tract. He reminded the commission that each of these properties has elicited controversy in recent years.
Kaddis admitted renting the bulldozers alleged to have been used to clear the land. He told the commission the dozer was to move dead brush into the bottom of the canyon where it could be disposed of, and that he'd acquired the necessary permits from the fire department to do so. Kaddis said he doesn't know who cleared the land or who vandalized the dozers and cut his irrigation lines. In early September, Kaddis said he paid $981 and $4,300 for repairs to the dozers which were vandalized.
Kaddis said his rights were violated by because Collart trespassed on Kaddis' land and wouldn't wait to make an appointment.
Prior to the hearing, the case arborist Paul Rogers was unwilling to comment because of the pending lawsuit.
Kaddis' lawsuit against the county asks for $20 million in damages and $20 million punitive. It was filed Wednesday morning with the clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

Back to the news