Fun Experiences Coming Soon to Harbor For All to Enjoy
As part of the Harbor’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, the Harbor Department is planning many wonderful events for the community to enjoy. Here are a few highlights:
- April 13th Celebration of the Whales Festival with a paint a whale mural project and with some carnival style games.
- Summertime – some possible night markets, a Maritime Museum Chowderfest, an Educational Day for local schoolchildren, working on doing a fish fry event (there was a one-day fish fry when the harbor opened), and a planned Concert on the Water this year as well as the usual car shows and other concerts in the park.
- Heightened festivities with increased decorations and lights for the Halloween Parade of Frights and Christmas Parade of Lights, as well as having a Holiday Market every weekend.
US Navy Training and Evaluation Exercise
The US Navy will be conducting a training and evaluation exercise at the Point Mugu Sea Range starting in March and continuing for several months. The purpose of the exercise is to test and evaluate the use of unmanned surface and aerial vehicles. All activity associated with testing will be safe for the public and all forms of sealife. The test will involve contractors who could potentially consider Ventura County as a location for companies and jobs in the future.
[Click for Press Release: Navy-test_Press_Release 3-9-25_JEM]
Updates on Harbor Development Projects
Karls at Fisherman’s Wharf:
The Harbor Department and Karls are reviewing the updated project design with the City of Oxnard to ensure no other adjustments need to be made to their plan. A NOID (Notice of Impending Development) has been submitted to the Coastal Commission for review as well. If no further project design adjustments are needed, the plan is to submit the project at a Coastal Commission hearing for approval in June or July per the Harbor Department.
Hyatt Place Hotel:
The hotel has completed the pilings around the perimeter of the site and installed some utilities. This project has been moving at a slower rate than anticipated or hoped for. The developer, Brighton Management LLC, needs to update their building plan to meet the new building codes, hopefully then progress will be significantly faster.
Children’s Park Adjacent to Marina Emporium:
Harbor Department said they are very close to having a Coastal Commission hearing (anticipating May) on this project.
Suntex Marina and Boat Slips Renovation Projects:
In March, Suntex started the Bahia Marina project. There is a site plan available for anyone interested, just contact me. Renovations for this marina are expected to be completed by end of this year, 2025, or the beginning of 2026. Suntex will then start work on Peninsula Yacht Marina. On April 8th the Harbor Department plans to ask the Ventura County Board to approve the proposed lease for Suntex to also take over the Commercial Fishing Marina. The Harbor Department and Suntex have been working to ensure their proposed project meets the needs of the fishermen as well.
Updates and Meetings on Other Important Community Matters
Update on Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps:
A Town Hall Meeting is being conducted by the City of Oxnard for District 1 on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30pm – The meeting will be held at the Hollywood Beach Elementary School (4000 Sunset Lane)
The purpose of the meeting is to present the new maps identifying hazard severity zone changes in District 1 released on March 10, 2025, by the State Fire Marshall. Changes could impact home insurance rates. [Click Here for Map and Details]
Update on Harbor’s Public Works Plan:
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the 8th Amendment to the Harbor’s Public Works Plan (PWP) on March 11, 2025. The amendment called for the 6 leasehold parcels of the Fisherman’s Wharf area (parcels V, V-1, V-2, V-3, V-4 and N-2) to have uniform height limitations of 34 feet that are consistent with the City of Oxnard’s Local Coastal Plan. The Harbor Department said this would correct historical inaccuracies and enable the redevelopment of the Fisherman’s Wharf site.
Teal Club Development:
(site has Doris Avenue on the north, Patterson Avenue on the west, Teal Club on the south and Ventura Road on the east)
This project is included in Oxnard’s 155-page Teal Club Specific Plan, available to the public online. The project includes 990 single and multi-family residential units (148 will be affordable units) as well as 60,000 square feet of commercial space.
A virtual public meeting was held on March 27th at 5:30pm via Zoom Webinar. The meeting was requested by District 1 Councilman, Bert Perello, and set up by District 2 Councilman, Gabe Teran. This was done to give the community another opportunity to learn more about the development from City staff and developer, Borchard Property Co-Owners, before it goes to the City Council on Tuesday, April 15th.
If interested in this development, please see the Teal Club Specific Plan and attend the April 15th Oxnard City Council meeting.
North Shore at Mandalay Bay Development:
Located on Harbor Boulevard and Fifth Street, this development includes 292 residential units, 183 single family and 109 detached condos. The plan includes public bike and walking paths along the Edison Canal. The project was taken over by Harridge Development Group in February, 2023. Harridge is in the process of completing the “horizontal infrastructure” work that includes grading, sewer, and water access. Harridge plans to sell the property to a homebuilder.