Report to Address Housing Plan’s Impact

A consultant will look at the possible environmental impacts of a housing development in Moorpark that would be built on land used by a rare coastal songbird.

The Moorpark City Council approved a plan to look at a range of alternatives for the proposed 475- to 715-home development on the north side of town, where two pairs of nesting California coastal gnat-catchers were recently spotted.

The Morrison-Fountainwood-Agoura development, formerly known as the JBR Development, is planned for a 455-acre site north of Charles Street and east of Walnut Canyon Road.

The environmental impact report, which should take several months to complete, will look at a range of different configurations for the project. Along with addressing concerns about the rare bird, the study will look at traffic patterns and the use of several routes into and out of the development. The development now includes plans to set aside about 175 acres for open space.