Big Vehicles Banned from Beachmont Street

Homeowners on Beachmont Street have scored a victory in their continuing fight with the city to slow traffic on their residential road, which is often used as an access route to nearby Ventura Harbor.

The Ventura City Council this week agreed to keep certain large vehicles, including trailers hauling boats, off Beachmont Street.

To approve the request, the council first adopted a citywide ordinance that enables the city to post signs restricting certain classes of vehicles on residential streets.

Although he voted for the Beachmont plan, Councilman Gary Tuttle said he was concerned that other neighborhoods would come forward seeking similar restrictions.

“I think this process is not the way to do it,” he said during Monday’s meeting. “I think it has been politically motivated. I think we are just doing it piecemeal.”

Residents on Beachmont Street fought hard last year to halt harbor-bound traffic in front of their homes by demanding that the city construct a cul-de-sac at the end of their street.

They said children and pets were being threatened by cars racing down Beachmont, which is located in the Ventura Keys area.

The council decided instead to add restrictive turn lanes and beef up traffic enforcement rather than prohibit cars from using Beachmont. But council members agreed to review the matter.

In April, the council instructed the city attorney to draft an ordinance to ease traffic on Beachmont Street. In particular, residents have complained about boat trailers and commercial trucks barreling down the road, and that is specifically what the ordinance targets.

The public has 30 days to challenge the ordinance. Without a formal legal challenge, the ordinance would become law.