VENTURA : Coastal Panel OKs Plan for Downtown
The California Coastal Commission has tentatively approved a plan to revamp Ventura’s downtown.
The state regulatory agency--which oversees coastal development throughout California--gave its blessing to Ventura’s Downtown Specific Plan on Wednesday but asked for some modifications, said James Johnson, area manager for the agency in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
The Downtown Specific Plan outlines a strategy to revitalize the city’s old commercial center. It includes development plans for some coastal areas, which also are under Coastal Commission jurisdiction.
The Coastal Commission asked that the Ventura County Fairgrounds be removed from the plan because the fairgrounds have a separate development plan that is yet to be reviewed.
The agency also decided to prohibit residential housing in an area off San Jon Road near the Pierpont Inn, and to restrict the maximum height of buildings west of the Ventura Pier and east of Holiday Inn to 45 feet.
If the Ventura City Council does not accept those changes within six months, the tentative approval by the Coastal Commission will expire, Johnson said.
Everett Millais, community development director for the city, said he does not expect any problems with the modifications.
“Those are minor things, really,” Millais said. “We’re pleased that it passed.”
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