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Planning panel approves four-story medical office at Midtown Ventura with explicit dark‑sky lighting condition
Summary
The Ventura Planning Commission approved a four‑story medical office building at 2819 East Main Street, granting a warrant to increase fourth‑floor footprint and an exception to reduce the rear setback; commissioners added an explicit dark‑sky lighting condition and discussed parking allocations tied to an adjacent parking structure.
A majority of the Ventura Planning Commission on March 18 approved major design review, a warrant and a setback exception for a new four‑story medical office building at 2819 East Main Street, near Community Memorial Hospital.
Senior planner Tyler Walter told commissioners the project would replace an existing building and is proposed as a four‑story medical office with retail at the ground floor. The applicant seeks a warrant to allow a 100% fourth‑floor footprint (the Midtown Quarter code normally limits a four‑story building to a 75% footprint) and an exception to eliminate the 20‑foot rear setback to align with an alley. Walter said the project qualified for a CEQA Class 32 exemption and staff recommended approval as conditioned.
Commissioners questioned traffic and parking impacts, alley safety for a two‑way patient drop‑off, and whether the project could set a precedent for similarly large footprints in Midtown. Applicant representatives said the project would rely on credits from an existing parking structure (staff noted 171 parking spaces are required and an 84-space credit plus 87 spaces from a demolished onsite building would be used), and that the drop‑off geometry was designed to accommodate larger passenger vehicles and emergency access. Jake Den, executive vice president and partner at PMBB, said the larger fourth‑floor plate supports efficient health‑care delivery and provider workflows.
Several commissioners praised design changes recommended by the Design Review Committee, including a glass corner element and a potential mural area, but reiterated concerns about sidewalk and alley pedestrian safety. Staff confirmed the alley is 20 feet wide and that building and fire standards were addressed in plans; they also said crosswalks and painted pedestrian markings would be provided to connect the sidewalk network.
Before voting, Commissioner McCarti requested—and the commission adopted—additional wording that the project’s exterior lighting be “dark‑sky compliant,” to be enforced through building plan check conditions. The commission then approved the application as conditioned.
The project’s approvals include the major design review, the warrant to permit the increased fourth‑floor footprint and an exception for the rear setback. The commission record shows no public speakers on the item during the hearing. The decision sends the project forward under the conditions set by staff and the commission, including the added lighting language.
