Oxnard Lauds Cal State Delay in Selection of Campus Site

Oxnard city officials reacted enthusiastically Wednesday to news that the California State University trustees have agreed to delay their decision on a campus site in Ventura County, pending the outcome of an engineering study on a proposed Ag Land site near Oxnard.

Trustees had said that they would decide the location of an expansion for CSU’s overcrowded University Center, which eventually may become a four-year institution, at their Jan. 12 meeting. But in closed session on Tuesday they extended the deadline to their March 8-9 meeting at the request of Oxnard officials.

“We’re very pleased that they agreed to the extension,” said Ken Hampian, assistant to the Oxnard city manager.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, trustees said they will no longer consider an Ormond Beach site proposed and endorsed in November by Oxnard’s City Council.

Hampian said the two-month extension will enable engineers to complete a study into the development potential of a 100-acre plot at Victoria Avenue and Gonzales Road donated by Somis land developers Ag Land Services in return for building concessions on 180 surrounding acres of agricultural land.

The Oxnard report is expected to be completed by Feb. 20, he said.