MOORPARK : Council to Discuss Development Plan

After months of anticipation, the Moorpark City Council on Wednesday will discuss a tentative agreement with Messenger Investment Co. to develop 4,000 acres that the company owns northeast of the city.

The council will also discuss whether to formally apply to the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission for an expansion of the city’s sphere of influence to include the land, which could eventually be the site of 3,000 homes.

Last month, Jim Aguilera, Moorpark director of community development, made a presentation to LAFCO on the city’s newly updated General Plan and how the Messenger project would affect future plans for development.

Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason said that, with the preliminary discussion completed, the city may be ready to bring LAFCO more specifics.

“In the big scheme of things, we said that the step that we just went through, briefing LAFCO, was necessary,” Lawrason said. “We have done that, and the next step would be to take an application to LAFCO to expand the sphere.”

The tentative agreement outlines payments Messenger would make to the city and steps that would be followed through the development process, Lawrason said. Among the payments is a one-time fee of $100,000 and an additional $25,000 deposit against city processing fees.

Messenger Vice President Gary Austin said he was glad the city was ready to consider the agreement and the LAFCO application. “I think it means that the council is ready for us to proceed with the specific plan,” he said.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 799 Moorpark Ave.