Flaws Cited in Plan to Overhaul Boulevard

There is “considerable merit” to a study that alleges the plan to overhaul Ventura Boulevard is “fatally flawed,” said the chairman of a citizens panel charged with overseeing the plan.

Jeff Brain, chairman of the 13-member Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan review board, said there are problems in the way the plan--a 20-year blueprint--assesses fees on boulevard property owners.

Brain said the group would discuss findings of a study commissioned by property owners at its meeting today.

“I think there is a lot of validity to some of the issues (the study) raised,” said Brain, who has criticized the fees as excessive and unfair. “I think it’s something we need to take a hard look at.”

The study by Hamilton, Rabinovitz and Alschuler Inc., a Los Angeles-based consulting firm, was commissioned by property owners appealing the fees that range between $2,000 and $800,000 per property.

The study, scheduled to be presented to the City Council’s planning committee today, said the fees were based on erroneous commercial growth projections and over-inflated cost estimates for traffic improvements, such as street widenings.

Brain said he will propose that the group, which now meets twice monthly, meet once a week to develop a revised budget for the $222-million plan to curb unruly growth, ease traffic and enhance neighborhoods along the 17-mile strip.

“Things are happening quickly right now,” he said. “We need to take a look at the best information we have and come up with a revised budget.”