Local News in Brief : Moorpark OKs Adding Homes to Settle Suit

The Moorpark City Council, in a move to settle a lawsuit filed 2 years ago against the city, has approved an amendment to its growth-control ordinance that would allow construction of 20 more homes a year.

After a public hearing at which no opposition surfaced, the council voted 4 to 0 Wednesday to amend the ordinance to allow approval of 270 building permits each year. Under the original ordinance, passed by voters in November, 1986, housing construction was limited to 250 units per year. Councilman John Galloway was absent Wednesday.

The amendment will also allow a builder to add any unused building permits to his or her allotment for the following year.

Moorpark Councilman John Patrick Lane said the amendment is required as part of an out-of-court settlement with the Building Industry Assn. of Southern California, which filed suit against the city in Ventura Superior Court in December, 1986. The association said in the suit that the ordinance violated a state law requiring cities to provide an adequate supply of housing.

Lane said the council approved the amendment to avoid additional litigation fees and because it believed that the amendment would not significantly affect the intent of the growth-control ordinance.