Unique Zoo, 2 Golf Courses on County Agenda : Supervisors: Board will consider proposals Tuesday. But angry Moorpark officials have requested a delay.

Eastern Ventura County could eventually get two new golf courses and a one-of-a-kind zoo for endangered species under two separate proposals being considered by the Board of Supervisors.

Under the first proposal, developer Ralph Mahan is seeking to build two 18-hole golf courses at Happy Camp Regional Park in Moorpark. Officials estimate that the project could generate between $250,000 and $500,000 annually for the county.

In a separate proposal, a Los Angeles-based group wants to lease a county park between Moorpark and Simi Valley that it plans to eventually develop into a zoo for endangered animals. Supporters say the zoo would be a world-class tourist attraction that would pump millions of dollars into the local economy.

But while Moorpark officials agree that the projects could prove beneficial to their city, they believe that the county is moving too quickly on both proposals and are upset that the city has not been allowed more input.

The Board of Supervisors will consider entering into lease agreements with both Mahan and the backers of the zoo project at its meeting Tuesday.

Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason, however, said his city would like more time to gather information about both projects and has asked the board to postpone its consideration of them.

“We’d like to be involved in the process, and the county for whatever reason has chosen to keep us uninformed,” he said. “And we’re a little perturbed about it. No, we’re very perturbed about it.”

Supervisor Vicky Howard, whose district includes Moorpark, was unavailable for comment. And Mahan, who proposed the golf course project, declined to talk about the development.

But officials of the Department of Recreation Services have argued that the golf courses could generate additional revenues for the county that could be used to pay for upkeep of other parks. In exchange for using the site, the developer would be required to return at least 5% of its profits, which could range from $250,000 to $500,000, to the county each year.

Still, Moorpark officials said they are concerned that building golf courses at Happy Camp, just north of the city, could greatly increase traffic through Moorpark and spur further development in the area. They also point out that there are already plans for three golf courses in Moorpark and worry that five may be too many for the area to support.

As it stands, “we’re going to get all of the impacts and none of the benefits,” Lawrason said of the proposed golf courses.

Officials are also concerned about potential traffic problems that would result if a zoo being proposed by a nonprofit group were built between Moorpark and Simi Valley.

The Endangered Species Zoological Society of Los Angeles wants to build an open-air zoo for more than 500 rare animals at Oak Park, a 115-acre county-owned park situated between the Simi Valley Freeway and Los Angeles Avenue.

“This is going to be a world-class tourist attraction that we think will be of great benefit to Ventura County,” said Mark Cartland, president of the zoological society.

Cartland said the Endangered Species EcoPark would be the first in the nation to house only rare animals in a wildlife preserve setting. He said the park would also serve as a major educational center by providing visitors with valuable information about the environment and endangered animals.

“Sixty-thousand schoolchildren live within 15 minutes of the park, and that is our real audience,” Cartland said. The park, he added, would provide new jobs and additional revenues for local businesses.

Cartland said his group will be asking the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to approve a lease agreement, which would give the organization one to four years to secure funding and get construction plans approved for the zoo.

Once built, the zoo could draw up to 250,000 visitors a year, he said. While this could present some traffic problems, Cartland said he believed that these could be resolved through good planning. He also noted that some of the roads in the area now handle less traffic than they are designed to accommodate.

But Moorpark Councilman Bernardo Perez said he is concerned about who will pay for traffic improvements if they are needed. He said the zoo could greatly increase traffic at the Collins Drive exit off the Simi Valley Freeway as well as on nearby side streets.

If this were to occur, Perez said the city would probably ask the county to pay for traffic and road improvements.

Perez also pointed out that development of a zoo would mean that Oak Park would no longer be able to provide other recreational activities to the public. The park is now equipped with overnight camping facilities and has a field set aside specifically for model airplane enthusiasts.

“No one is questioning the value of a tourist attraction,” Perez said. “But we have to look at all the impacts. The big question to me is, ‘Why doesn’t the county include Moorpark early on in the process of evaluating these projects?’ I don’t know what we have to do to say that more clearly or loudly.”

Simi Valley officials were not available for comment on the zoo; however, the city did not file any complaints with the county over the proposal.