Specialty Studies & Consulting
Representative Projects

Clients:
County of Ventura  Resource Mgmt. Agency - Planning Division
Private Developer

Project Description:
In response to a request from the California Coastal Commission staff, to help them assess an application for a Local Coastal Plan Amendment to change the land use designation from Commercial to Residential on a 2.85 acre portion of a site located on Pacific Coast Highway, this detailed Feasibility Study was prepared to:

1. Assess the feasibility of  developing new Visitor-Serving Commercial uses on the subject property by conducting independent market research, considering site specific conditions, completing economic analysis of potentially viable uses, and providing professional conclusions as to the viability of the subject property for visitor serving commercial use;
2. Offer professional opinions regarding the potential effect which Coastal Commission approval of the proposed land use designation changes may have on the long term viability of the existing adjacent  property; and
3. Assess and draw conclusions as to the property’s highest and best use, its economically feasible use, and its maximally productive use.

Client:
CPH Tower, LLC

Project Description:
Creation and implementation of a comprehensive community Outreach Program for Pacific Pointe at Port Hueneme Tower, a proposed 46-story resort hotel and luxury residential condominium development on a beachfront site in the City of Port Hueneme.

Client:
Archstone Communities

Project Description:
Negotiations and client/city representation in meetings with Governor’s office, State Legislature, California Department of Veterans Affairs, Governor’s Commission on Veterans Homes, CA Native Heritage Commission, local active military and veterans organizations, local City Councils and Ventura County Board of Supervisors, and others to lobby for the appropriation of state matching funds required to develop a CA Veterans Home in Saticoy, CA.  Facilitate transfer of site, and compliance with related CEQA Mitigation and Monitoring Measures, as required to secure final project approvals for Archstone to develop its proposed 404 unit apartment community, and to deliver the adjacent to Veterans Home site to the State.

Client:
Trammell Crow Residential Southern California (TCR)

Project Description:
The purpose of the Apartment Concentration Study was to examine the actual economic, physical, and public safety conditions in several areas of Oxnard and Ventura County with high concentrations of apartment units, to draw conclusions regarding the impact that a concentration of apartments has  had on neighborhood conditions over time; and to determine if the type of ownership and size of the individual properties was a factor in any adverse impacts.  This study was conducted in response to concerns expressed by the City of Oxnard Planning Commission during Public Hearings to consider the proposal by TCR to build 374 new apartment units immediately adjacent to an existing 404 unit apartment complex.

Client:
Private Foundation

Project Description:
Detailed investigation and analysis to provide the property owner with our professional opinion regarding the potential financial feasibility of proposed renovations, and market repositioning improvements, to its 309 unit Ventura Pines Apartments, including projections as to the achievable post renovation rents.

Clients/Applicants:
City of Ventura, CA
Archstone Communities
Centex Homes
University of California

Project Description:
Application Preparation, Process Management, and Client Representation for Ventura County LAFCO review and approval of the annexation of a various development sites into the City of Ventura, CA

Client:
Interstate Brands Corporation
International Bakeries Corporation

Project Description:
Detailed current and historical Zoning Ordinance research and analysis to verify and fully document continuing code-compliance for the Weber’s Bread Outlet Store, a legal non-conforming retail use that has been in continual operation since 1963.

Project Feasibility Consulting & Expert Witness Testimony 
El Monte Transit Village, El Monte, CA

Client:
Titan Group

Project Description:
El Monte Transit Village, is a mixed-use transit oriented development consisting of retail and office uses, a hotel, a regional education center, a conference/exhibition center, public park areas, and 1850 residential dwelling units.  The primary focus of DSG’s work was to provide an independent professional assessment, and resulting expert opinions related to the master developer’s market feasibility and land planning assumptions, and to present these expert opinions at public hearings during the development entitlement process.