City Council Denies Ventura’s Request

City Council members have rejected an appeal by the city of Ventura that requested a second look at an environmental review of Oxnard’s latest redevelopment project.

In a hearing that ended early Wednesday morning, Councilmen John Zaragoza, Tom Holden and Bedford Pinkard and Mayor Manuel Lopez voted to deny Ventura’s appeal, which sought to reopen the environmental study of the 2,600-acre project.

Councilman Dean Maulhardt, whose family owns about 100 acres of farmland near the redevelopment district, abstained from the vote.

Ventura’s appeal challenged an environmental study approved for the redevelopment project by the Planning Commission in September.

Representatives from Ventura argued that the review had not closely scrutinized some major potential impacts, such as traffic congestion and the effect on surface and ground water.

They also questioned the city’s intentions to declare about 300 acres of farmland in the proposed district blighted.

City officials have said that much of the farmland has previously been approved for commercial development, and there is nothing improper with declaring it blighted.

Officials Wednesday said that the environmental review has met all state requirements.

Officials say the latest redevelopment project, the city’s fifth, is necessary for economic rejuvenation.

“Unless it [the environmental review] can be supported, we can’t get to the next step,” Holden said.

Oxnard council members are expected to vote on the redevelopment project later this year.