MOORPARK : Hearing on General Plan to Be Reopened

The Moorpark City Council will take the unusual step of reopening a public hearing on amending the city’s master plan six weeks after the hearing was closed.

Council members voted 4 to 1 last week to reopen the hearing on March 18, giving residents one more chance to speak about General Plan amendments that could lead to a doubling of the city’s population.

Councilman Scott Montgomery cast the dissenting vote, saying city officials should accept the minimal risk of a future lawsuit rather than delay a decision on the proposed amendments.

The council held several public meetings on the proposals before officially ending the hearing period on Feb. 8.

But residents have continued to voice opinions about the proposals through comments at council meetings, telephone calls and letters to council members.

City Atty. Cheryl Kane has advised council members that the city could be sued for allowing continued public comment about the proposed amendments when the public hearing has been closed. Developers or residents who are unhappy with the council’s final decision on the proposals could contend that the additional public comment unfairly influenced council members, Kane has said.