Planned projects in Ventura
There are many planned developments in Ventura. Our group aims to focus on a few developments at one time to maximize our impact. If you know of a proposed development you are concerned about in your neighborhood, please feel free to reach out to us.
Click HERE to see all pending projects in Ventura on the City of Ventura's website. Scroll down and click "Development map."
701 E. SANTA CLARA STREET
INTERSECTION OF SANTA CLARA AND FIR STREET
FIVE STORY BUILDING CONSISTING OF 80 UNITS (7 BELOW MARKET RATE) AND
2,407 SQ. FT. OF COMMERCIAL SPACE
View the project on the City's website here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1xnAw7sjhtCsnpCMODfpItdnsMwtVFLe_&ll=34.27974939999999%2C-119.2898076&z=12
CITY CONTACT: LEVI HILL Principal Planner
lhill@cityofventura.ca.gov
- Developer is requesting 2 concessions for including below market-rate units (referred to as "affordable" units).
- Located in the T5.1 Mixed Use Zone which allows 3.25 stories. Developer is requesting 5 full stories with rooftop decks which is not permitted because it will block ocean and mountain views.
- 80 residential parking spaces for 87 units. There are 18 2-bedroom units (presumably more than one occupant per unit) so there is less than 1 parking space per unit.
- Parking concession of .5 spaces per unit is requested because they are 1/2 mile from a major bus stop. Ventura does not have a transit hub near here with scheduled stops every 15 minutes or less during morning and afternoon rush hours. Cal. Pub. Resources code 21060.2
- Nearest major transit stop (Amtrak station) is .6 miles away and does not serve the needs of many workers or commuters.
- Very small setback from the sidewalk plus balconies leaving no room for shade trees or other landscaping despite the landscaping pictured.
A NEW 6-STORY MIXED-USE BUILDING DOWNTOWN ON THE CORNER OF THOMPSON AND FIGUEROA WITH 94 UNITS AND 3,322 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE ON A .92 ACRE SITE.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE REVIEWED FOR THE SECOND TIME BY THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 7TH AT 6 P.M. CITY HALL
- Project developer is the Daly Group who developed the Kal-Thom project currently under construction at Kalorama and Thompson.
- The Downtown Specific Plan (the city's guidelines for building in the downtown area) restricts massing on a 4th floor to 75% and a 5th floor to 25%.
290 Maple Court at Maple Street just East of Mills Road
Developer is working with their architect on the design and will
resubmit the project in the future
PROPOSED 350-UNIT MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMPLEX
WITH 4900 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE
View the project on the City's website here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1xnAw7sjhtCsnpCMODfpItdnsMwtVFLe_&ll=34.27048279999998%2C-119.24512580000001&z=12
Contract Planner: Kim Zuppiger
nzayer@cityofventura.ca.gov
- Five stories is proposed in an area adjacent to single-family homes
- 2-3 levels of residential units over 2 levels of parking
- 35 low income units
- Contemporary theme does not fit the aesthetics of the area which includes homes with mid-century modern influences
- Adding 350 units with potentially 500 to 700 vehicles trying to use one or two entrances will directly impact the neighborhood.
- Traffic study for the project is essential. The safety of pedestrians and children in the area must be considered.
- Design looks almost exactly like Front and Kalorama (below) which also does not fit into Ventura's beach and coastal vibe.
CORNER OF FIGUEROA STREET AND HARBOR BOULEVARD
FOUR STORY BUILDING PLUS ROOFTOP DECK
160 ROOMS PLUS SWIMMING POOL, RESTAURANT, DAY SPA AND
OTHER AMENITIES
View the project on the City's website here:
https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31614/PROJ-8165_Hilton_DRC-sr
Contract Planner: Tamara Harrison
nzayer@cityofventura.ca.gov
- Project was previously approved by the Planning Commission in 2009 but permit expired in 2013.
- Design Review Committee reviewed the project 5 times in 2014 and 2015
- Design was changed from Art-Deco Embassy Suites to a Spanish Eclectic/ Santa Barbara influence with more of a contemporary edge
- Shared grassy area called Promenade Park will host events
- Improvements to crosswalk at railroad crossing on Harbor Boulevard
- Fairgrounds parking lot across the street will be used for events and a crosswalk will be added for pedestrians
INTERSECTION OF HARBOR AND SEAWARD CONSISTING OF 97 CONDOMINIUMS IN 15 BUILDINGS AND
19,493 SQ. FT. OF COMMERCIAL SPACE
View the project on the City's website here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1xnAw7sjhtCsnpCMODfpItdnsMwtVFLe_&ll=34.26532540000001%2C-119.2712101&z=12
CITY CONTACT: KEVIN KOHAN, Contract Planner
dsanders@cityofventura.gov
- Developer is requesting a variance for an elevation of 65 feet. It will be 53 feet tall along Seaward and Pierpont. Pierpont residents are not granted height variances for new construction so why is the city favoring developers?
- Coastal Mixed Use Zone Chapter 24.295 "Facilitate development that respects the desired pedestrian scale and character of Ventura's coastal environment by avoiding massive, monolithic structures and instead encourage a series of smaller scale buildings fronting publicly accessible walkways, streets and/or open space(s)."
- City is allowing the developer easements; eliminating the bike lane and relocating the sidewalk on Seaward to allow parking.
- Egress from the project is unsafe and confusing because there are no left turns onto Pierpont or Seaward thus causing traffic problems.
- Insufficient amount of parking for the live/work units.
- Very small setback from the sidewalk leaving no room for shade trees or other landscaping.
Sign up on the NextDoor app. Look for Groups> Save Ventura Views Seaward/Harbor/Pierpont/Mega Structure
https://nextdoor.com/g/t8dqw6msz/?is=nav_bar
Front St. / Laurel Community
APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL 7-0
AFTER PLANNING COMMISSION DENIAL 6-0
https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/agendacenter
A new 4 story apartment building with 88 units was submitted for 935 E. Front Street. This project is known as "Front and Kalorama" and will be built in the current location of Tilly's Marine (boat storage yard). It is near the recently approved 4-story 46-unit condo building known as Front and Laurel and the 45 -unit project known as Kal-Thom at Kalorama and Thompson.
The Planning Commissioners did not approve this project for the following reasons:
- Project exceeds the city's allowable percentage on the 4th floor (100% requested versus 15% allowed) which will completely block views of the mountains, ocean and sky. This was requested as a Density Bonus concession for including 14 affordable units.
- A lot this size is required by code to have 2 buildings or have the appearance of 2 buildings to avoid massing. They are violating the code (see photo below) and there is no attempt to look like 2 buildings except on 1 side, Front Street.
- Project is allowed by the Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP) to have only 30% of the units be stacked flats to avoid a boxy, monolithic feel. The developer is asking for 92% of the units to be stacked.
- Since Kal-Thom opened, there is a severe lack of adequate street parking for residents and there is less than 1 parking space per unit in this project.
- The building style is out of context and its character does not reflect the surrounding neighborhood.
THANK YOU to the community who showed up at the City Council meeting on November 14th. The Council says "their hands are tied" by the state but they are not enforcing the codes established in the Downtown Specific Plan.
Laurel Courts Proj-12046 on Front & Laurel
SOLD- to Aldersgate Investments who will also build the Front and Kalorama luxury apartments across the street.
