Hearing on Homes to Be Continued

Still negotiating with the company proposing to build a development of 216 luxury homes on the city’s north side, the Moorpark City Council decided to continue a public hearing next week.

In the first of what will probably be several public hearings on the issue, the City Council on Wednesday listened to representatives from Bollinger Development Co. detail how they have modified their plans to take into consideration the concerns of neighbors.

The council also heard from several neighboring homeowners who said the council should not allow Bollinger to build more homes in the rural area than the land is now zoned for.

“I think they want to overbuild the place,� said Eddie Bergfield.

The land is presently zoned at one home for every five acres, but the Bollinger proposal calls for building homes on one-acre plots.

In early December, the City Council approved an environmental report for the project--to be known as Moorpark Country Estates--despite objections from several local residents who said it would degrade sensitive habitat and undermine the rural character of their neighborhood.

Bergfield pointed out that for the company to be able to build on the rugged 655 acres near Walnut Canyon Road and Grimes Canyon Road, they would have to move about nine million cubic yards of dirt.

“Think about it,� he said. “That’s everything there. There will be no more habitat.�

The next public hearing will be held Wednesday.

Westlake-based Bollinger Development has already received approval of its plans from the city Planning Commission.

As an incentive for approval, the Bollinger company’s proposal also includes two 18-hole golf courses, several trails and an equestrian center.

The homes are each expected to cost from $500,000 to $1 million.