Panel to Study Affordable Housing

A City Council committee will look into earmarking as low-income housing eight houses planned for land next to Moorpark’s Flory Elementary School.

Moorpark Councilman Clint Harper said that since the land--near Bard and Miller streets--is within the downtown redevelopment zone, the proposed project would be an ideal place for affordable housing.

Redevelopment agency funds could be used to help home buyers, he said.

“We’re very good in Moorpark at building homes for those who have a $70,000 or $80,000 income, but we’re very bad at the extremes,” Harper said. “We’re doing very little for families that are making $40,000 a year and, in Ventura County, it is very hard to buy a home of your own making even $47,000 a year.”

An ad hoc committee consisting of Harper and Councilwoman Debbie Rodgers will look into the matter before a building permit is granted.

The matter came up when developers requested a permit for the eight-home project at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

Council members discussed street widening near the school to accommodate the new homes, placement of utilities and a reduction in city fees normally required with new construction. The project’s developer wanted the fees reduced because of the small size of the project.

Developer Manuel Asadurian later asked to postpone his request 30 days to do further research. At that point, Mayor Patrick Hunter suggested that the council organize the committee to look at the affordable housing issue.