VENTURA : Project OKd Despite Concerns Over Suits

After a long public hearing, the Ventura City Council on Monday approved in concept a development agreement with KNM Development Co. to build a 147-unit affordable housing project in eastern Ventura.

The council had withheld approval of the condominium project after Mayor Richard Francis’ disclosure earlier this month that the developer had been involved in “significant litigation.”

On a 4-2 vote, the council followed the staff recommendation to approve the development agreement with the proviso that the developer must give the city a bank-authored statement indicating that the developer will receive a construction loan to complete the project.

That condition will also be added to all subsequent developer agreements approved by the city, City Manager John Baker said.

At the hearing, most speakers supported the development, saying that being sued does not mean being guilty of wrongdoing.

The vote Monday was preliminary. A final vote will be taken in six to nine months.

“There’s nothing to cause grave concern about KNM’s ability to develop this project, which we believe the community wants and needs,” said KNM attorney Mitch Kahn.

But some people argued that the lawsuits do reflect badly on KNM’s record.

“My father was a handyman constructor and never had to be sued,” Harold Kennedy said. “If something was wrong, he fixed it.”