Recommendations Made on Housing

After a three-year moratorium on residential construction because of drought concerns, the Ventura Planning Commission has recommended allocating 120 housing units to three developers this year.

In May, city leaders lifted the ban and gave approval for 140 housing units in large housing projects each year through 1996. The three developers on Tuesday were the first to request housing allocations since the moratorium ended.

The City Council is scheduled to make the final decision in late September. The 20 units that were not allocated can be added to next year’s allocation.

Wittenberg-Livingston Inc. received 23 units, Presley of Southern California received 77 units and Raznick Trust received 20 units.

All three development companies had asked for more units than they received, but Associate City Planner Ann Grant-McLaughlin said the developers plan to build their proposed projects in phases, so they have the option of asking for more housing allocations next year to finish their projects.

After securing a housing allocation, a builder is eligible to submit a project proposal to the city. Projects are approved by the Planning Commission and can be appealed to the City Council.