Description

In 1999 and 2000, the City Council approved two subdivisions on the subject property, which included a total of 284 detached small-lot single-family residences.  Initial grading of the subject site was conducted, but due to concerns associated with the nearby floodplain arose and a new flood study was prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  In addition, and due to an economic downturn, the original project did not proceed and was not constructed.

On April 15, 2016, Pacific Community Builders, Inc. (“Applicant”) filed a new application to develop the 38.73 acre property located south of Los Angeles Avenue and west of Leta Yancy Road (Site/Project Site) for a residential development consisting of 153 detached single-family and 131 detached condominium units (“Project”).  The current Project is referred to as Pacific Communities.   

On September 20, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-3626 adopting an MND for the Project and approving the General Plan Amendment No. 2016-01 for a change to the land use designation from General Commercial to High and Very High Density Residential on the Project Site.  On the same date, the City Council also adopted Resolution No. 2017-3627 which approved Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 5882 and conditionally approved Residential Planned Development Permit (“RPD”) No. 2016-01 for the Project.

On October 4, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 453 approving Zone Change No. 2016-01 to change the zoning on the Project Site from Commercial Planned Development, RPD-7U, and RPD-7.5U to RPD-9U, RPD-20U, and Open Space.  On the same date, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 454 approving Development Agreement No. 2016-01 for the Project between the City of Moorpark, and M.P. Group, LLC, Moorpark Homes, LLC, and CLP Investment, LLC (“Owner”).

Since the Projects approval in 2017, the Applicant has worked diligently to complete grading and building plans.  While working to develop final drainage plans, the Applicant, working with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, determined that additional flood storage area was required.  The revised drainage plan now includes broad crested weirs to allow for higher flood volumes in the Arroyo Simi Channel to be ensure flood levels could be mitigated on-site.  The design of the weirs requires that the concrete rock slope within the channel be reconstructed.  The changes to the Project’s storm water plan ensure that the Project would not worsen flood conditions in the vicinity of the Project.

On April 13, 2023, the Applicant submitted an application to amend the Development Agreement and to consider an Addendum to the previously approved MND for the Project. The request is currently pending a hearing, tentatively scheduled for Planning Commission in December 2023.