Community Updates
10/2024
Hello Community Members,
We’re excited to share an update on our harbor-side project! Throughout the summer, we’ve been busy finalizing our design for the schematic design submittal to the harbor, conducting site evaluations, engaging architects and consultants.
A comprehensive traffic analysis was initiated by the harbor department, expected to finalize in Q4/2024.
The next milestone within our lease option agreement is to submit our project to the California Coastal Commission, that includes plans and the studies.
Stay tuned for further updates on the harbor website and here.
Thank you for your continued interest,
The Karls Team
Karls Lease Option Agreement -
5/21/2024
At the 5/21 County Board of Supervisor meeting, the county agreed to enter into a Lease Option Agreement with Karls.
We would like to thank all community members and organizations for their continous support.
The one-year lease option agreement allows Karls to move forward with finalizing plans for the project, as well as secure any necessary permits from the California Coastal Commission and the City of Oxnard. If Karls satisfies the requirements and conditions outlined in the one-year lease option agreement, a subsequent 30-year lease will take effect.
We are looking forward to the next phase!
The Karls Team
Workshops for Concept Concluded - 1/2024
Dear Valued Community Members,
On behalf of the entire Karls team, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who participated in our recent workshops and provided us with invaluable feedback. Your insights and suggestions have been instrumental in shaping the vision for our exciting project.
We were truly inspired by the enthusiasm and passion you demonstrated for bringing Karls to the harbor in Oxnard. Your collective voices have helped us understand the unique character and aspirations of our community, allowing us to create a development that not only reflects your values but also enhances the vibrant spirit of Oxnard.
The feedback we gathered from the workshops has been carefully considered, and we are incorporating your suggestions into our ongoing planning process. Your input has helped us refine our designs, prioritize key amenities, and ensure that Karls seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape and community.
We are committed to staying true to our core values of family-friendly fun, sustainable practices, and community engagement. Your participation in the workshops has reinforced our dedication to these principles and has provided us with valuable guidance as we move forward with this exciting project.
We will be thrilled to be a part of this community and to create a destination that will bring joy, excitement, and lasting memories to all people for generations to come.
With gratitude and anticipation,
The Karls Team
Public Workshops 1/2024
We are thrilled to share the exciting news of a series of workshops scheduled for January 2024, where we invite the community to actively participate in providing feedback on our updated draft concept for the revitalization of Fisherman’s Wharf at the Channel Islands Harbor.
In April 2023, our team at Karls embarked on a 12-month Exclusive Right to Negotiate (ERN) period with the County of Ventura. Throughout this period, our dedicated team has been conducting several visits to Fisherman’s Wharf, and crafting a concrete concept for the site.
This marks the second series of public outreach workshops initiated by our team for this project. In February 2023, we conducted a total of 12 workshops to gather initial feedback and comments. Over the past year, we have wholeheartedly refined our plan, incorporating valuable input from the community.
We deeply appreciate the harbor’s and the community’s involvement and remain committed to collecting additional feedback as we progress towards the decision-making phase.
We, the Karls development team, extend an invitation to join us for the series of outreach workshops taking place from Thursday, January 18, 2024, through Monday, January 22, 2024. These sessions will be dedicated to presenting our new concept and addressing any questions or concerns you may have. All workshops will be hosted at the Channel Islands Boating Center, situated at 3880 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, CA 93035.
We eagerly anticipate your participation and value the input you will bring to the table!
Your Karls Team
Update 5/2023
In April 2023 Karls and the County of Ventura agreed to an Exclusive Right to Negotiate.
The Karls Team is thankful for all of the positive support so far and very excited to generate an initial concept for the Fisherman’s Wharf.
Currently the team is in the midst of absorbing all the information, gathering missing pieces and creating ideas.
An updated time line will follow soon.
Your Feedback 2/2023
Thank you to all of those participating in person or remotely in our first phase of community outreach.
Below is an inital list of main points taken from the outreach.
– implementation of waterbus or watertaxi with a station at the Fisherman´s Wharf
– potentially add options for to-go food also by boat
– public dockspace is desired for visitors arriving by boat
– sidewalk consideration connections to the rest of the harbor should be coordinated
– marine education integration (for example touch pond and tidal pools)
– partial or full implementation of farmers & sea food market
– establish comment feedback loop (potentially community advisory committee)
– include bi-lingual outreach components during process
– considerations of all historic layers like the Chumash and the donors of the harbor land
– considerations of community give back cycles, especially farming community
– traffic considerations beyond an easy FW access: consideration of Silverstrand impact
Karls Village at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard
In November 2022 Channel Islands Harbor announced their intent to collaborate with Karls to jointly redevelop the decades-long neglected Fisherman´s Wharf site at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. Karls thanks everyone for their comments since then. We would like to take the opportunity to clarify some facts and information about Karls.
Karls is a family friendly destination that offers fun and educational experiences to guests within the context of the strawberry and maritime village theme. A typical Karls village is designed around a large central indoor market hall, with restaurants, retail, and live manufacturing shows for freshly made items. There is also an outdoor landscaped area with playgrounds, seating corners, small food stands, and some smaller rides for young children. Karls is not an amusement or theme park and has found its own niche within the retail and entertainment industry.
We are offering this platform for all of you to share your ideas and thoughts. We will keep you, the Oxnard community, updated on the status of the project and you will be able to directly contact our owner, Robert Dahl. We hope this site will enable a lively, transparent, and constructive medium for us to enrich the harbor, Oxnard, and Ventura County.
