OXNARD : Plans for Shopping Center Are Studied

The Oxnard City Council studied plans Tuesday for a controversial regional shopping center that is expected to generate $2 million a year in new sales taxes for the city.

The project, a 592,000-square-foot complex known as Shopping At The Rose, is proposed for 62 acres at Rose Avenue and Gonzales Road and would be anchored by a Wal-Mart store.

The project is planned for an area that is home to the city’s auto center and a variety of other high-volume shopping outlets.

“I think you’ll see a very powerful retail magnet develop in that general area,” City Manager Vernon Hazen told council members.

But area residents have been less than sold on the proposed center.

They have complained about pollution and traffic that would be generated by the project. And many residents have questioned the need for a new shopping center in Oxnard when so many retail outlets throughout the city remain vacant.

Developers and city staff members have countered that the proposed project is expected to create as many as 1,500 jobs and is expected to generate $800,000 in new sales taxes in its first full year of operation.

By its 10th year of business, city staff has estimated, the project would be pumping out $2.5 million a year in sales tax revenue that could go directly into the city coffers to pay for police, fire and other public services.

Kevin Bernzott, who heads the McGaelic Group, developers of the project, said his firm has talked to merchants and area residents about their concerns.

“We tried to design this responsibly from the get-go,” he told council members. “Have we done enough? I think so and I’m comfortable enough to let you be the judges of that.”

A public hearing is scheduled for the proposed project on Tuesday at 7 p.m.