Massive development's fate hangs on construction of Springville interchange
Nearly 1,500 homes planned to border 101 Freeway
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

The future of a massive 170-acre housing and commercial development just north of the 101 Freeway between Las Posas Road and Central Avenue in Camarillo depends on the construction of a new freeway interchange.

The Springville Drive interchange project would provide on- and off-ramps between Las Posas and Central Avenue for a swath of undeveloped farmland that stretches from the base of Spanish Hills to the 101 Freeway.

Preparations for the mixedused development, designated the Springville specific plan, have been in the works by the city since early last year. According to city officials, the project may add 1,500 homes to Camarillo's west side, necessitating the new freeway interchange.

Camarillo officials are awaiting an okay from Caltrans to move forward with the ramps' construction. Tom Fox, the city's public works director, said the state is expected to make a decision by early next month.

"If the interchange doesn't happen, (there's) no reason to put forth the specific plan because there's no infrastructure that can be provided," Fox said.

He said private developers would fund the lion's share of the project's cost- expected to far exceed its projected $30 million price tag- with the city expected to kick in about $16 million.

The cost, Fox said, will be the key to whether the interchange is built. Massive development projects underway in China and rebuilding efforts on the Gulf Coast, devastated last year by Hurricane Katrina, have driven up the price of construction materials.

"In the last three years construction costs have gone up by as much as 50 percent and that's a huge unexpected increase that could change the financial picture," Fox said.

"In some cases," he said, "there are certain materials that you just have to get in line and wait (for), and no matter what you pay, you have to wait until it's available."

Fox said the city hired three independent engineering firms in November to determine whether the freeway project is financially feasible.

"If we know that we can build the project, then we need to make sure that we can afford it," Fox said.

The reports - which cost the city $40,000 apiece - are due in early January.

Although the city would require private developers to pay

the major share of the project's cost, Fox said there is a cost ceiling, or tipping point, that would force the builders to abandon the plan.

Fox said the interchange is also needed to relieve rush hour traffic congestion along the Las Posas corridor, affecting the Carmen Drive and Central exits.

City planners said traffic along the corridor will increase as land south of the freeway is developed, housing is added to the eastern edges of Oxnard and the student population swells at California State University at Channel Islands.

"We know that a combination of things would eventually overload the capacity of that Las Posas corridor," Fox said.

Fox said environmental reports for the interchange have already been completed and offer no problems for the project.

In a best case scenario, Fox said, the city would break ground on the interchange in August 2007 and complete the project by 2009.