Commentary: SouthShore development deserves a yes vote from Oxnard Council

By Maria Elena Cruz / Member LULAC District Board

In a few days the Oxnard City Council will make a crucial decision — whether to approve or deny an important new proposed community development in South Oxnard. Your involvement as a leader is vital and we urge you to attend and participate.

Background

SouthShore is a planned project that will include single-family homes, condominiums and apartments and will include a 77-acre park and open-space system as well as 3-miles of multi-use pedestrian / bicycle trails encircling the community and connecting to 15 Gold Coast Transit stops.

This project has gone through an 8-year process to reach this vote. During the process, it has been shaped by the Oxnard General Plan, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 1999 Study of Ormond Beach as well as input from Community Groups, City Staff and Districts.

The Impact

SouthShore is an important step forward for South Oxnard. For years, that community has suffered from the lack of economic growth. Building a new neighborhood of this scale promises to bring with it new stores, restaurants and companies. As importantly, new families also mean a boost for existing shopping centers, dining locations and businesses. Altogether $25-million will be spent by SouthShore households every year. And while the project is being built, it will create 3,400 construction jobs in addition to 270 other jobs citywide, 80 commercial jobs on-site and 197 jobs at home.

The Challenges

As the vote draws near, a campaign of misinformation and false claims has been waged. Among the challenges, here are most serious misrepresentations and the facts:

CLAIM: The project will harm Ormond Beach.
FACT: SouthShore is 1 ½ miles from the beach! Still, the project will pay for a wildlife patrol officer to ensure beach and wildlife is protected. Historically, homeowners are better caretakers of property and resources than residents not invested in the area. 

CLAIM: The project only includes luxury homes.
FACT: SouthShore will have 15% of its homes designated affordable for qualified families. And with the mix of single-family homes, condominiums and apartments, the goal is to create a new opportunity for residents at different income levels to create a new neighborhood.

CLAIM: The project is too remote to be accessible for our Community.
FACT: SouthShore will have 15 Gold Coast Transit stops to ensure that residents can get to and from their homes and will serve as an important anchor to South Oxnard and the greater Oxnard area. Also, it is very accessible to Oxnard Community College and the CSUCI campus.

We urge the Oxnard City Council to approve SouthShore. It is a project long overdue for South Oxnard and if it fails to pass now, it may well be years before our community has an opportunity like this again. Please reach out to the members of the Council and let them know we support SouthShore and ask them to do the same. 

Please mark the following date on your calendar and ask as many people as you can to join us the night of the vote at Oxnard City Council:

What: Oxnard City Council Vote on SouthShore Development
When:
Tuesday June 14 at 7 p.m.
Where:
Oxnard City Council Chambers, 305 W. Third St. Oxnard

LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS

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