Competitors Protest Fast-Food Restaurant

A Newport Beach developer wants to build a child-care center and a Taco Bell restaurant at the corner of Johnson Drive and Capri Avenue in east Ventura, near the soon-to-be expanded Century Theatres.

But property and business owners in the area say the proposed fast-food eatery would increase traffic, depreciate the value of their land and hurt the small businesses that operate in the food court across the street.

They have appealed the Planning Commission’s approval of the project. The City Council is expected to take a vote on the appeal and a requested zoning change Monday night.

“I am concerned about it,” said Mario P. Reyna, owner of El Taco restaurant on Johnson Drive. “Why do we need more fast food [restaurants] when we have so many in Ventura County already?”

Under the proposal, VGP Associates of Newport Beach would construct a 10,200-square-foot Tutor Time child-care center and a 2,960-square-foot Taco Bell on a 3.19-acre site off Johnson Drive. The developer also wants to build a 9,600-square-foot retail building on the site.

Originally, the developer wanted to put an office building on the vacant land. But attempts to market the property were unsuccessful.

In late June, the Planning Commission approved the proposed project in a 5-0 vote. Commissioners said the project would bring more people into the Johnson Drive area, which would boost business for everyone.

The proposed development would be built next to the Century 8 movie theater, which plans to expand from eight to 16 screens.