OXNARD : Redevelopment Panel Approves 5-Year Plan

The Oxnard Redevelopment Agency has approved a five-year, $15.7-million plan to spruce up the city’s downtown, Southwinds and Ormond Beach areas.

The proposal comes in response to a recent state law requiring every redevelopment agency to provide a detailed five-year implementation strategy that outlines where its money is going and how it will alleviate blight.

The Oxnard City Council acts as the city’s Redevelopment Agency, which uses tax revenues and issues bonds to boost fading communities. The five-year plan includes projects ranging from fixing up building facades downtown to restoring wetlands at Ormond Beach.

The city report approved this week detailed ways in which Oxnard could build more housing for low- and moderate-income residents within its four redevelopment areas--two in downtown Oxnard, one at Ormond Beach and one in the Southwinds neighborhood in south Oxnard.

The report also discussed possible sites for replacement housing in case the city’s plans force people out of their homes.

Sierra Club members have objected to plans to redevelop Ormond Beach, arguing that the area is mainly made up of wetlands and open space and does not have much blight.

Former Oxnard Mayor Jane Tolmach questioned the motives for scheduling the discussion five days before Christmas, adding that redevelopment is widely opposed by the city’s residents and is financially risky.

“Last week, you hastily staged a possibly failed coup d’etat to get rid of the Planning Commission,” Tolmach said. “Today, you charge ahead with adopting a five-year redevelopment implementation plan, which will greatly increase the indebtedness of the city.”

Council members expressed concern about $9.7 million allocated for administrative costs and asked for a more detailed explanation of how that money would be spent.