Development Would Strain Moorpark

I wonder how many Moorpark residents can identify the proposal to build the single largest housing development this area has ever seen. Or a project that would add well over 3,000 homes to an already well-stocked inventory, requiring the city to expand beyond the current boundaries by as much as 60%. How about a deal in which a fiscal analysis has revealed there to be no monetary benefit and quite likely would result in a deficit to the city.

The project is so big, environmental studies have designated it one of regional significance, with many detrimental effects to be incurred. These include, but are not limited to, a reduction in air quality to below set standards. There would also be major loss of prized wildlife habitat and a complete alteration of a designated scenic view shed. In addition, there would be a violation or at least circumvention of our hillside ordinance. A further threat would be imposed on our water supply and our landfill capacity, not to mention the burden placed on an already maxed-out school system.

TIMOTHY P. KELLY

Moorpark

* A recent newspaper article in Moorpark is unfortunately not balanced and fails to examine the full impact of the Messenger project.

Air pollution of the type that will be generated by Hidden Creek killed 182 people in Ventura County last year (per a Times article). The effect on wildlife and habitat will be overwhelming. Both of these impacts will require the City Council to issue a Statement of Overriding Consideration stating that the project is more important than the effect on health and environment.

The financial impact on Moorpark is flawed. Fiscal impact is based on the ability to sell 700 to 1,000 homes a year when Bollinger, Morrison, Carlsberg, A. Levy, Schleve, Rasmussen and other projects start being built all in the same time frame. This is most improbable and ignores a possible slowdown in housing sales. The potential for an enormous deficit impacting Moorpark is severe.

The term “rural clustering” is an oxymoron. Webster defines “cluster” as “a bunch,” “things growing together,” hardly appropriate for what is now open space.

The density called for is from 2,300 to 3,200. Why is it automatically assumed that the developer will get 3,200 homes? Why? What does Moorpark get for giving the developer this bonus increase?

The commercial center will not add tax dollars but will serve as a drain on businesses on Los Angeles Avenue and High Street.

More businesses will be fighting for customers and will erode the existing customer base for Hughes, Albertsons and others, turning the already vacant storefronts into a ghost town.

DILL La PERCH

Moorpark