Moorpark Council approves first step in development along Gabbert Road

prescription times;”>By Debra Tash

decease times;”>The Moorpark City Council gave the green-light to Moorpark Property 67 to submit their application to change the General Plan…but they did it with a major revision.  The group, which is only applying for a per-screening, has already had their project go through four revisions since they first proposed it in 2009 for the 67.96 acres they own just north of the industrial park along Gabbert Road.

Site Plan

Development Plan

James Rasmussen, the developer spoke during the public hearing saying that he has met with neighbors attempting to address their concerns.  He “would like to put up a family friendly development.”

Steve Hunter, who is a land design consultant, said the project has gone from a proposed 271 units to 207 to now just 137 units.   He presented different cutaways showing how the property could be graded to lessen any visual impact.  He said that the building pads would be forty to fifty feet below the ridge line.

Neighbors voiced a range of objections, despite the developer reaching out to them.  They said the project would change the rural character of their equestrian neighborhood which is just north of the railroad track and past the Edison transmission facility along Los Angeles Ave. They felt their view-sheds would be compromised and there would be more traffic.

Councilmember David Pollock, who just won reelection on Tuesday, said it would be: “Quite a transition from industrial to rural.”  Councilmember Roseann Mikos said: “Probably shouldn’t have taken as long to get to this point.”

Mayor Parvin (also reelected on November 4th) commented: “A decision tonight does not meaning anything is being approved.”

But it was Keith Millhouse who was not comfortable with the project.  Councilmember Mark Van Dam (also just reelected) proposed changing the project yet again.  He suggested approving the submittable for changing the zone designation in the General Plan without any high density housing included.  This is what the Council voted to approve. What that means is apparently for Rasmussen to figure out.

Debra Tash is Editor-in-Chief of Citizensjournal.us, past president for Citizens Alliance for Property Rights, business executive and award-winning author, residing in Somis.

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