2 Newcomers Named to Planning Board

A revamped Planning Commission will evaluate development projects in Moorpark next year, with two of the panel’s veterans losing their spots to new faces.

The City Council voted Wednesday to appoint newcomers Gary Lowenberg and Keith Millhouse to the commission. They will join Ernesto Acosta, Barton Miller and Paul Norcross, who were reappointed by the council.

But Chairman John Torres, who ran for a council seat in the November election, and Commissioner Christina May were not returned to their posts.

Mayor Pat Hunter, who nominates candidates to the panel, said his choice to pass over May and Torres was not a criticism of their performance.

“They’ve served the community quite well,” he said. “But I wanted to give an opportunity to more people to participate. . . . The line I attempted to walk was to find that balance between continuity and bringing in new people.”

During Wednesday’s council meeting, Hunter also nominated newcomer Edward Murphy to fill the fifth seat on the panel, instead of Barton Miller. But Councilman Chris Evans argued that Miller, the city’s former postmaster, had the type of experience the panel needed.

Councilman Bernardo Perez also argued in favor of Torres for the fifth slot, citing his service to the community.

The motion to pick Murphy failed on a 2-3 vote, with Evans, Perez and Debbie Rodgers Teasley opposed. The council then unanimously reappointed Miller.

Lowenberg is a director of business development for Federated Capital Services and came in fifth during the March special election to replace Councilman Scott Montgomery. Millhouse is an attorney.