OXNARD : Concerns Told Over Homes in Greenbelt

Developers who took advantage of a new early-look policy in Oxnard by floating plans for a massive subdivision before the City Council met with skepticism from officials this week.

Priske-Jones Development of Ventura wants to build 720 homes with Affordable Homebuilders of Oxnard on 120 acres at Channel Islands Boulevard and Rice Avenue.

About 20% of the homes would sell for less than $100,000--an affordable-housing incentive that developers hope will help win approval for the project when the application process is completed.

But the property is in the middle of a newly established greenbelt dedicated to preserving farmland and open space in and around Oxnard.

Under a new “pre-review” policy, building applicants can describe development plans to City Council members before they ask for formal approval.

But while two council members said the proposal sounded interesting and deserved more discussion, another was adamantly opposed.

Councilman Michael A. Plisky wasted little time in telling the builders that he could not approve the project because it was inside the greenbelt and would probably spur more leapfrog development.

The builders said Wednesday that they probably could not afford to build the project elsewhere.

“We’re concerned with that (open space) issue, living here and working here ourselves,” developer Joe Priske said. “But if you really want to get a true affordable housing project, that’s the only way to do it.”