Ventura council to discuss midtown project with 225 apartments, 90 townhomes, 79 houses
The Ventura City Council will consider first steps in the possible approval process for a midtown housing development with 225 apartments, 90 townhomes and 79 single-family homes on Monday night.
The KB Home-proposed project, at 2325 Vista del Mar Drive, includes buildings up to five stories tall on a 14.5-acre site. The project is located directly across the train tracks from the 72-townhome Haley Point project approved in 2021.
Monday's consideration of project terms is an opportunity for the council to express concerns or set guidelines for the developer. The city will also consider whether to initiate a local coastal program amendment, which is necessary for the project to move forward.
Such an amendment would allow residential use at the industrial site, a city staff report says. The site is currently used by a citrus company for industrial and manufacturing uses, according to KB Home. Existing industrial buildings and paved areas would be removed for what the developer calls the Del Mar project.
City staff recommend the council deny the requested changes unless KB Home agrees to set aside 20% of for-sale units for residents with moderate income. According to the pre-application submitted in December 2021, the project had no affordable units.
At a March meeting about the project, a KB Home representative was asked whether the development would follow the city's inclusionary housing ordinance, which mandates a certain percentage of homes be affordable. The representative said KB Home would agree to it.
If the City Council gives its OK, the site also needs California Coastal Commission approval to designate the property as high-density residential, according to the city report. The commission could deny the land-use designation, require a redesign or want additional changes.
KB Home and the city have already reached agreement on access across the railroad crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists and the preservation of mature street trees along Vista Del Mar Drive.
Both sides have also agreed to include a public park and open space and to make street improvements including sidewalks, on-street parking, trees, bicycle lanes and curbs and gutters.
When the council last discussed the project on March 27, KB Home asked the city to initiate the coastal program amendment to start the process. Council members expressed concerns about affordable housing and rezoning. Councilman Bill McReynolds, a residential builder, gave the strongest support for the project.
Haggai Mazler, a vice president for KB Home, said the project could deliver much-needed housing to Ventura.
Many residents at the March meeting voiced worries about the proposal, with some demanding the city reject it and others wanting affordable units.
Council members in March directed staff to negotiate a so-called term sheet with KB Home to lay out key topics under discussion. On Monday, the council will weigh in on the term sheet and how to proceed.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St.
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: Ventura City Council to discuss midtown housing development
