Oxnard Planning Commission approves sand management plan, issues coastal development permit

The City of Oxnard Planning Commission on March 6, 2025, voted 5-0 to approve a coastal development permit to implement the Oxnard Sand Management Plan for the Oxnard Shores area, formalizing how the city will collect wind‑blown sand from sidewalks, streets and access points and redeposit it at 13 identified beach locations.

The plan, presented by city staff, is intended to regularize decades of ad hoc maintenance and to give Public Works defined areas and procedures for removing sand from public rightsof‑way and placing it back on the beach. Joe Pearson, Planning and Environmental Services Manager, said the permit “is under the authority of the City of Oxnard. So this coastal development permit would be approved by the Planning Commission unless appealed within 10 working days of this action.”

Why it matters: supporters said the plan clarifies operating practices, equipment and schedules so crews can respond faster and avoid recurring costly removals; opponents say it does not address larger beach restoration needs and instead preserves artificial sand piles and nonnative plantings that should be removed. The commission approved the permit with a corrected administrative date in Planning Division Special Condition 4 from 10/17/2024 to 03/06/2025.

Project details and staff responses City…