Controversial 4-story apartment project approved for downtown Ventura

Ventura council members approved an 88-unit apartment project with some affordable units in the downtown area despite a majority of speakers opposed at Monday's meeting.

The City Council unanimously approved the project, which the Planning Commission had denied in late September. The townhome-style apartments will include 12 units for low-income residents and two for moderate-income residents.

The plan approved by the City Council has more low-income units than did the proposal considered by planning commissioners. Originally, the project called for nine low-income and five moderate-income units.

The project at 935 E. Front St. will total four stories of rental units with parking. The nearly 1-acre site, located south of Thompson Boulevard in the downtown district, is currently occupied by an existing warehouse building used for boat sales.

"We are providing affordable housing and we're doing it in a way that we have made the process easier for housing to get built," said Councilman Mike Johnson.

Johnson was critical of the project and asked questions about potential lawsuits, state affordable housing laws and the size of the development but ultimately voted in favor.

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Most of the 30 people who spoke at the meeting were against the project, including a city planning commissioner. The Planning Commission denied the project on Sept. 28 citing inconsistencies with the city's municipal code, the city's plan for downtown and state density bonus law.

The applicant, Aldersgate Investment, LLC, an Oxnard-based real estate and construction firm founded by CEO Ernie Mansi, appealed the decision to the City Council.

Residents who addressed the council opposed the project because the building was too high and blocked views. Some said it negatively changes the character of the neighborhood.

"This project is simply too big, too tall and too gaudy. Allowing its completion would set a damaging precedent that future developers would be all too eager to follow," said resident Olin Bruton. "This project adds another homogenous building to an area that was uniquely and distinctly Ventura."

Sue Pollack, who lives near the project, said it would negatively impact her views.

"I think it’s just way too high," Pollack said. "I think that it should be a three-story building, and the rooftop also really is a concern. There's going to be umbrellas. There's going to be trees."

The arguments did not sway the City Council.

In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the city of Huntington Beach for violating state housing law. Councilwoman Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios said she approached the issue from that framework.

"I recognize that there are state laws that we just can't circumvent that we as a city have to abide by and if we don't, there will be consequences," Sanchez-Palacios said.

In approving the project, the council was asking the Design Review Committee to recommend design changes that could improve the plan. It's up to the developer whether to accept any recommendations.

Matt Mansi, chief operating officer for Aldersgate LLC, said Tuesday he was excited to get started on construction and downtown revitalization.

The next step is submitting construction drawings, which is a six to eight-month process, Mansi said. When those are approved, construction will start and is expected to take about two years.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Controversial 4-story apartment project OK'd for downtown Ventura