Oxnard Panel Approves Housing Project Near Factories and Wetlands

Despite critics’ claims that 351 new homes don’t belong next to factories and sensitive wetlands, Oxnard’s land-use advisers have approved a plan for 208 duplexes and 143 houses to be built by the Baldwin Co., the Newport Beach-based developer that filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this week.

Supporters of the 33-acre Village West argued that the subdivision plan, which will go to the City Council for consideration Aug. 15, will bring “hope and new life” to the industrial area southeast of Hueneme and Perkins roads.

“There are always going to be minuses, but there are also a number of pluses,” land-use adviser Richard Maggio said. “It’s a high rental area and [the new dwellings] will provide additional balance in the area.”

The panel Thursday voted 3 to 0 to approve the project, with adviser Albert Duff voting against it and Dale Dean absent. After five years of meetings, discussions with city officials and environmental impact reports, Baldwin Co. executives said they were relieved Oxnard had taken a step closer toward allowing development at Village West.

“We’re very pleased,” said Louis Malone, president of the company’s Ventura and Los Angeles division. “We’ve owned land in Oxnard for 10 years.”

If the development wins the council’s approval, Malone said the Baldwin Co. hopes to begin construction in October.

The Village West plan initially called for 435 units but was scaled back after Oxnard officials requested a less ambitious development. The Baldwin Co. also owns or has land-use options on a 1,400-acre parcel at nearby Ormond Beach that includes environmentally sensitive wetlands.

Environmental activists said Thursday that the Village West plan may jeopardize wildlife.

“The site along Hueneme Road is the northern entrance to the wetlands,” said Jean Harris, a member of the Ormond Beach Observers and an Oxnard resident. “You are being asked to fill this entrance with 351 dwellings.”

But one project supporter, who lives in the South Winds neighborhood near the Village West parcel, said south Oxnard needs the development.

“I’m sure you know not many developers are interested in south Oxnard and south Oxnard has continued to go down,” said Bonnie Trent, chairwoman of the South Winds Neighborhood Council. “I believe the Baldwin Co. development will bring hope and new life.”

Some city officials have expressed concern that the Baldwin Co., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Tuesday, may not have the financial wherewithal to continue with its Oxnard developments. But Baldwin Senior Vice President Nick Gorely sought to put these doubts to rest Thursday.

“[The filing] will not affect our daily operations,” Gorely said. “I would like to assure you of our ongoing commitment in Oxnard, particularly [in] Village West.”

City Atty. Gary Gillig said Oxnard requires developers to take out bonds to pay for infrastructure. But he said the city cannot force a broke builder to complete a development.

“Projects go up at times and they become vacant,” Gillig said. “You can’t absolutely guarantee that a developer finishes a project.”

Several manufacturing firms in the area worried that if the project is finished, Village West residents could be endangered. Halliburton Energy Services, which operates an oil field service company, and a cardboard reprocessing plant owned by Willamette Industries are several hundred feet south of the proposed development.

“I did want you to know that we are concerned as a company,” said Halliburton manager Paul Pennington, adding that the company deals with dangerous chemicals and explosives. “We want to operate our business and not have children running out in front of our 80,000-pound vehicles.”

A report approved in December concluded that environmental concerns were not serious enough to warrant halting the project. But Thursday, the land-use advisers decided to recommend that the city require the developer to maintain a 250-foot buffer zone between the edge of the housing development and adjacent lands.

The panel will also recommend that the city beef up a contract item requiring the developer to get all residents to sign affidavits declaring they are aware of the areas and industries surrounding the development.

In addition to the tract plan, the City Council must approve a special use permit and must rezone the area from light manufacturing to moderate-density housing before the $140,000 to $190,000 housing units can be built.