Oxnard Planning Commission continues sand-management plan to Feb. 20

On Dec. 5, 2024, the City of Oxnard Planning Commission voted to continue the Oxnard Sand Management Plan (Planning and Zoning Permit No. 22-400-06) to the Planning Commission hearing of Feb. 20, 2025, after staff asked for additional time to incorporate one city-owned area and to coordinate with the California Coastal Commission.

The sand management plan would authorize collection of wind-blown beach sand from beach access points, sidewalks, streets and walkways and redeposit that sand onto the beach at 13 locations, staff said. Joe Pearson II, planning and environmental services manager, told the commission the plan is intended as a maintenance program so the city can keep access paths and streets clear and avoid exporting sand offsite. Staff said the project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, as noted in the staff materials.

At public comment, Walter Hagedorn, identifying himself as chair of the Oxnard Shores Neighborhood Council and as representing “the Colony,” urged a longer postponement. “We would like to recommend that you not have a date certain that we have time for the public to interact with the, with the staff and to come up with a plan that works for everyone,” Hagedorn said, citing a 540-page consultant report and concerns that the sand plan has not been fully integrated with the city’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) update and related adaptation strategies.

Pearson and Brian Yanez, assistant public works director, reiterated that many of the broader dune and adaptation concerns raised by commenters are being addressed as part of the LCP update, not the sand-management plan itself. Pearson said staff is working to incorporate the additional city-owned area identified after earlier meetings and to confirm the changes with the Coastal Commission before returning to the commission.

Commissioners did not debate additional changes on the record. Commissioner Dr. Lopez moved to continue the item to Feb. 20, 2025; Commissioner Schulke seconded. The roll-call vote was unanimous: Dr. Lopez, Schulke, Nash, Ziehlsdorf, Vice Chair Dr. Stewart and Chair Arejo all voted yes; Commissioner Connolly was absent. The motion passed.

Staff said the continuation will allow time to incorporate the additional area and to coordinate with the Coastal Commission; staff also noted a public meeting about the LCP on Dec. 9, 2024. The commission’s next hearing on the sand-management plan will be Feb. 20, 2025, at which staff expects to present the revised plan and any Coastal Commission coordination results.

Meeting time stamps indicate the item was introduced in the public-hearing section of the Dec. 5 agenda, public comment was received from Hagedorn, and the commission’s action to continue the item concluded the item’s hearing.