3,221-Home Development Dominates Council Race

The largest single development in the history of Moorpark, the 3,221-home Hidden Creek Ranch project, looms large in the race for the mayor’s office and two seats on the City Council in the November election.

The project, which was approved by the council in July and, if built, would increase the city’s population by a third, has become a central campaign issue among the nine candidates.

Hidden Creek is “clearly the [issue] that generates the most attention,” said Herbert Gooch, head of the graduate school of public administration at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

The controversial project also has spurred a citizens campaign to block the city from expanding beyond its present boundaries without voter approval. The Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) group has placed the growth-control measure on the ballot for a Jan. 12 special election. The people behind SOAR have also placed a referendum on the same ballot that would overturn the council’s approval of Hidden Creek.

The two leading mayoral candidates, Councilman Bernardo Perez and current Mayor Patrick Hunter, have opposite views on Hidden Creek.

Hunter is the only council member who voted against the project in July. “I believe it is simply not in the best interest of our community for a list of reasons,” he said.

He said the project would create a financial burden for residents, add to traffic problems, increase urban sprawl and is inconsistent with the city’s General Plan.

Perez, who is challenging Hunter rather than try to retain his council seat, is a staunch supporter of Hidden Creek.

He says the project would bring in $51 million in developer fees for needed city improvements. It also would provide some money for a bypass road to alleviate truck traffic on New Los Angeles Avenue, the city’s main street.

Critics say the bypass won’t work and the money being offered by the developer would not come close to the cost of the project.

Although Hidden Creek is dominating the race, it is not the only issue facing voters.

The city continues to grapple with how best to revive the city’s old downtown area that centers on quaint High Street.

The next council must also deal with an anticipated $800,000 budget deficit.

There is also the question of what to do about truck traffic on New Los Angeles Avenue. Moorpark residents complain about the noise and dust that accompanies the big rigs and worry about truck-related accidents.

Of the nine candidates, Hunter and Perez have raised the most money from contributions. Recent filings show that Hunter, a sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, has received $7,056. Perez, who retired from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power earlier this year, has collected $6,596.

The third mayoral candidate is Tim Kalmekarian, who is campaigning on a peace and love platform and has considered running for president in 2000. Kalmekarian has not raised any money.

Six candidates are battling for the council seat that Perez is giving up, and to unseat Councilman John Wozniak, a Moorpark school warehouse worker who has served since November 1990. Wozniak, who has raised $1,555, was the swing vote on the Hidden Creek project. He originally opposed it because he did not believe the developer could address concerns over grading and traffic. Perez persuaded Wozniak to reconsider. After talking with the developer and gaining some concessions, Wozniak changed his vote.

Clint Harper, a SOAR backer, decided to run for office on the day Wozniak changed his vote.

“I see Hidden Creek as being so detrimental to the community and this part of Ventura County that it was the final straw when John changed his vote,” Harper said.

Harper and another challenger and SOAR backer, Roseann Mikos, have campaigned together. Mikos has gathered $1,084, of which $500 came in the form of a loan. Harper has raised $607.

A candidate supporting Hidden Creek is Eloise Brown, who is trying to regain a seat on the council. She says the project would bring needed housing to Moorpark.

Ernesto Acosta, a city Planning Commission member appointed by Hunter, has raised no money but plans a door-to-door campaign. Though he once voted against Hidden Creek, he has recently said the city needs the project in order to gain control over the development in the 4,300 acres outside the city where Hidden Creek would be built.

Rather than building his campaign around Hidden Creek, which he opposes, Keith Millhouse has made truck traffic the centerpiece of his candidacy.