By Olivia Madera
On Thursday, Jan.16 the Oxnard City Council held a meeting to discuss the planning and zoning permit for the Encanto Homes Subdivision. The 27 single family detached, single story home subdivision is a residential approved project according to the list of development projects updated in October 2023 from Oxnard’s Community Development Department.
The subdivision will include 27 lots each consisting of 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms and will be located at 1101 and 1111 W Second St. and 1101 W First St.
The construction is expected to begin in April with an estimation of a two-year completion timeline.
The item was filed and proposed by Henry Casillas on behalf of the property owner, however before the item was discussed, District Four and Mayor Pro Tem Bryan A. MacDonald declared a potential conflict for the item in regard to the Fair Political Practices Commission’s (FPPC) rules.
“Depending on which FPPC rule you look at, I may or may not live within a district that would disqualify me from voting. So I’m gonna take it on the safe side and abstain on this item,” said MacDonald.
There were no additional speakers in person or virtually for the consent items.
Gabe Teran, district two councilmember said the subdivision item dates back to 2019 when Casillas first approached him to develop the “parcel which was previously owned by the Oxnard Union High School District”. The old site for the Oxnard Adult School. Teran thanked Casillas for maintaining communication with the Oxnard City Council staff and the Neighboring Council for Fremont South.
“I just want to give thanks to him for his efforts in this, and for his effort of staying committed to this development and staying committed to keeping the residents who live near to it updated,” Teran said.
District One Councilmember Bert E. Perello said he believes the project is an improvement, but inquired three questions to Community Development Director Jeff Pengilley. Of those questions he asked, was if the facility will be solar-ready, if the subdivision will have the latest landscaping to provide correct trees for the Oxnard area, and if there will be a use of porous pavement due to the drought-prone area.
Pengilley said he believes the single-family homes “are at a minimum solar ready,” and “may actually have installed solar”.
He said the pavement plans have been approved and to his knowledge said there is no permeable pavement on the project.
Perello further asked if the project were to have potential for anything permeable, would water go to the storm drains or into the ground. Pengilley said the current water permit encourages infiltration and there are many ways to implement that through treatment and then infiltration through bioswales.
“Groundwater infiltration is the mantra of the current storm water permit, the water is treated through bioswales or other methods, and then as much as practical is treated and sent back to the groundwater,” Pengilley said.
He said the overflow from larger storms then runs off into the storm drain system.
After Pengilley’s comments, Casillas said the plans were reviewed by landscape architects and the trees that are being added to the landscaping are appropriate for the Oxnard area.
The item was then moved by Teran and seconded by District Six Councilmember Arthur Valenzuela Zavala, following a recusal by MacDonald.
The motion for the item carried 5-1 with MacDonald abstaining from the item.