Oxnard Bans Development of Multiplexes Outside Downtown

To the delight of downtown business owners and the annoyance of developers, Oxnard officials have banned the construction of multiscreen theaters outside downtown.

The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance Tuesday night.

The ordinance limiting theater locations is designed to ensure that plans for a proposed downtown multiplex theater are not threatened by similar projects elsewhere. A market analysis has shown Oxnard could not support more than one multiplex theater.

“I think we need to give the downtown an opportunity to survive,” Councilman John Zaragoza said after the meeting.

Similar ordinances have been used by such cities as Santa Monica to prevent theater developments outside the city center from undermining downtown redevelopment efforts.

Even though no firm plans for construction of more movie theaters in Oxnard exist, representatives of The Esplanade mall and other developers objected to the ordinance.

“I believe this is a restraint of free trade and it’s only going to serve to stifle business,” said Craig Scheidt, representing the owners of The Esplanade. “If you need to protect any use in a particular location, there must be a problem with that particular location.”

Downtown business owners, some of whom trace the beginning of downtown’s decline to the opening of The Esplanade in 1970, were unsympathetic.

“If this is perceived as preference, well, it’s about time,” said Tila Estrada, president of the Oxnard Downtowners. “We’ve been neglected too long.”

The city has the option of renewing the ordinance on an annual basis.