Demands Rejected for Report on Market Site

Overriding the pleas of neighborhood residents, a Ventura panel voted unanimously Wednesday for a series of measures designed to reduce the environmental impacts of a planned Lucky supermarket.

In doing so, the three-member Environmental Impact Committee rejected residents’ demands that they do a complete environmental impact report on the property. That set of measures is now scheduled to go before the City Council on May 12.

Lucky Stores Inc. wants to build a 52,298-square-foot, full-service grocery store on Telegraph Road, across from Ventura College. The supermarket would be open 24 hours a day and have 212 parking places.

Later in May, the entire project will go before the Planning Commission, said Maura Macaluso, the case planner.

Residents have argued repeatedly that the supermarket would generate traffic, noise and air pollution. They further argue that it is unnecessary because they have a Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs within a five-minute drive.

More than 30 people, including residents and students from the nearby Ventura Christian Faith Center and Ventura Christian Academy, turned out to protest the project and demand an environmental report.

“I speak for 1,362 citizens of this area who have signed a petition asking the Planning Commission and the City Council to reject this project as it stands,” said Patrick Vanhorn, who lives nearby. Citing safety concerns, he and his fellow petitioners say they want a new environmental impact report.

The last report for the property was done more than five years ago for a much larger commercial project, Macaluso said. Doing a new one would drag the process on for another year, impose considerable cost upon the developer and yield an informational document that decision makers could choose to ignore, committee members said.

Steve Chase, assistant to the city manager, and Ron Calkins, director of public works, said they were rejecting demands for an environmental impact report because they want to get the project as quickly as possible before the decision makers, where its ultimate fate will be decided.