Close Airport, Build Homes

I am opposed to the Raznick & Sons Inc. shopping center proposed for the corner of Victoria Avenue and 5th Street, southwest of the Oxnard Airport.

In June, 1991, County Agricultural Commissioner Earl McPhail told city and county planners that the destruction of agricultural land in our county had reached serious levels and that the development of even 10 acres of agricultural land should be considered a critical issue.

The proposed shopping center would destroy 20 acres of prime agricultural land. Presently, the proposed site is surrounded by more farmland and not by a residential community that would require its facilities. Adequate shopping facilities can be found a mere mile south on Victoria Avenue, well within the nearest residential community. The building of a shopping center at the proposed site would only encourage further development in the immediate area of the site. I am opposed to any more development of any kind west of Patterson Road.

I favor the closure of the Oxnard Airport. The airport can no longer coexist with the city of Oxnard and has become a public nuisance to most of the citizens. With closure of the airport, the airport land could be developed as a residential area and this plan might include a shopping center which would serve this community. This plan would eliminate the need to destroy any more of our precious agricultural land.

CHRISTOPHER KINGSLEY

Oxnard