Environmental Groups Sue City of Oxnard to Protect Ormond Beach Wetlands From Development
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
Ventura County — The Environmental Defense Center, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Coalition filed a lawsuit against the City of Oxnard July 28 disputing the City’s decision that new residential, commercial and industrial development at Ormond Beach will not harm sensitive wetlands or the State’s plan to restore the area.
On June 14, the City approved the first of two major developments targeted for the Ormond Beach “Specific Plan” area. The SouthShore Project, a primarily residential development with over 1500 housing units, will pave over a vast open space area that currently protects the wetlands from existing urban development. The second development project (not yet approved by the City) would similarly convert an open space area to commercial and light industrial development, and limit the size of the California State Coastal Conservancy’s planned wetland restoration. The City evaluated the potential environmental impacts of both projects in one Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The environmental groups assert that the City’s EIR and approval of the SouthShore Project violated the California Environmental Quality Act and State Planning and Zoning law.
The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the County of Ventura. Additional information is available online






