OXNARD : 3 House Plans OKd at Oxnard Shores

The Oxnard Planning Commission approved plans Thursday for three houses to be built in an oceanfront subdivision that has not been built on for 18 years because of a dispute over beach erosion that pitted property owners against environmentalists.

The longstanding dispute over the Oxnard Shores was settled in 1988, resolving 10 lawsuits designed to force city and state officials to allow development on the shoreline.

In the past five months, the city has granted nine other building permits for Oxnard Shores.

On Thursday, the commission voted 5 to 1, with one commissioner abstaining, to give one coastal development permit each to Lycon Properties Inc. of Sherman Oaks, Roy Milbrandt of Ventura and Douglas W. Burdge of Los Angeles.

Lycon plans to build a two-story, 4,831-square-foot house on pilings on Marine Way and Amalfi Way. Milbrandt plans to build a two-story, 6,200-square-foot house on Mandalay Beach Road near Breakwater Way. Burdge plans to build a three-story, 4,895-square-foot house on the corner of Mandalay Beach Road and Reef Way.

Commissioner Selma Dressler, who has voiced concern about other projects at Oxnard Shores, abstained from the vote, saying the structures will form a “wall of homes” to block the view of the ocean. She said beach erosion will also make it unsafe to live in a house built on pilings.

Commissioner Stella Spray agreed. “Any home built on sand will not stand,” she said.

The commission’s decision can be appealed to the City Council and to the State Coastal Commission.

Under the settlement, lot owners gave up more than 1,400 feet of property along the beach for two public parks and agreed to grant public beach access. In return, they were allowed the right to exceed current density restrictions.