MOORPARK : Homeowners Target Housing Projects

With the help of a former Moorpark Planning Commission chairman, a handful of Moorpark homeowners have banded together to fight future development.

Calling themselves Citizens Who Care, the homeowners have enlisted the help of Bill La Perch, who served on the Planning Commission from 1981 to 1985 and was chairman of the commission for one year.

La Perch said six planned projects threaten to encircle the city with development and destroy its rural atmosphere. He said local residents were worried about rapid growth and fearful of development in areas zoned for five-acre residential sites or for open space.

“The question should be asked: Are the residents that are already here going to be better off if these projects are built?” La Perch said.

He conceded it was very unlikely the new group’s actions could stop any of the developments, but said he hoped the group could at least change the direction of some projects.

Two of the housing developments include golf courses, as does another project planned for Happy Camp Regional Park.

“All those golf courses in one city just seem absurd,” La Perch said.

The group hopes to first focus its work on two housing projects planned for the city’s north side, including the 3,221 residences proposed by the Messenger Investment Project and the planned Bollinger development calling for 216 luxury residences.

Extensive environmental reviews and public hearings on the two projects are under way.