Council to Reconsider Zoning of 600 Acres
More than 600 acres of land--rezoned in April as part of a development project in northern Moorpark--may revert to their original, rural zoning now that the developer has failed to buy the property, city officials said Monday.
The Moorpark City Council is scheduled to discuss Wednesday whether to change the zoning on the currently undeveloped land between Grimes Canyon and Walnut Canyon roads.
At issue is a development agreement, approved by the council in April, that allows Westlake developer Paul Bollinger to build 216 luxury homes and two golf courses on the land. Although the council agreed to Bollinger’s plans, they expressed concern that he did not yet own the property.
Several worried that if Bollinger’s project fell through, other developers not bound by the conditions of Bollinger’s agreement with the city would try to build on the site.
As protection, the city gave Bollinger 120 days to line up financing for his project. If he had not purchased the land by the deadline, the city would be free to return the land to its rural zoning. The deadline passed Saturday.
In a letter to City Manager Steve Kueny, Bollinger said the project’s financing should be finalized by Oct. 15. City staff has recommended that the council postpone its decision on the property until then.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
