Suit to Block Harbor Development Denied

Boosting plans for future development at Ventura Harbor, a Superior Court judge this week rejected a lawsuit to block construction of new apartments, condominiums and retail stores on 20 acres near the marina.

A Ventura physician filed a lawsuit last year against the City of Ventura and the Ventura Port District, alleging that new environmental studies should be conducted to determine the effects of increased traffic on nearby residents.

The lawsuit alleges that new information--such as a 1998 traffic study--demonstrates the need for further review. That study showed increased traffic on Beachmont Street and residential areas compared with similar studies in a 1995 environmental impact report.

Traffic has been a contentious issue for Beachmont residents. For the past 10 years, they have complained about cars and boat trailers zooming down their street to the harbor, endangering children and pets.

New development, they contend, would only make it worse.

But in his ruling this week, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Henry Walsh decided that the environmental studies conducted four years ago were adequate. And he questioned the accuracy of the more recent report.

“There is evidence,” he wrote, “that residents of Beachmont have skewed data by repeatedly running over traffic counters so as to inflate the readings.”

With the lawsuit out of the way, port officials are stepping up development plans.

“We believe it gives us a green light to proceed,” said Oscar Pena, the port district’s general manager.

Last month, the district invited four developers to submit proposals. Later this month, the agency will hold a series of meetings with residents, business owners and environmental groups to share ideas and concerns about the scope of future projects.

Port district officials plan to select a developer in January, and hope to break ground on a project by 2001.

Beset with financial problems--such as losing a $15-million breach-of-contract lawsuit that plummeted the agency into bankruptcy in 1993--officials hope developing two vacant parcels in the harbor area will pull the district out of debt.