Council Critical of Apartment Project

City Council members got their first look at a proposed luxury apartment complex in north Oxnard, and they didn’t like what they saw.

Tuesday night’s study session was an informal look at the project, but to varying degrees each councilman said he would be unlikely to back it.

Trammel Crow Residential of San Diego has proposed building 306 apartments on 12.66 acres at Oxnard Boulevard and Gonzales Road, and developing 12 acres into a sports park with room for soccer and skating.

But the project would require rezoning the now-vacant land, which has been earmarked for a 25-acre sports park. Members of the Defeat Trammel Crow Neighborhood Task Force stretched a list of more than 1,000 signatures around the council chambers to illustrate opposition to the project.

“We’re out to save our park,” said Ray Komar, the group’s spokesman. “That’s our goal: not to rezone that property.”

Other opponents expressed concerns about increased traffic and a shortage of school space for children of future residents.

Overall, the council had little enthusiasm for the project.

“There’s obviously some very strong concerns with this project and whether it could ever fly,” said Councilman Dean Maulhardt.

In light of the council’s comments, Trammel Crow will now review its options, said Michael Genthe, the project’s development manager.

“Obviously we’re disappointed about the initial direction we heard,” Genthe said.