A proposed development just north of Moorpark College would bring up to 1,600 new homes, a relief of traffic on Collins Drive and a possible relocation of the campus observatory.
The North Park development, which would not begin construction for at least three years, would also bring a new offramp from Highway 118 and an additional parking lot for the campus, according to the North Park Village and Nature Preserve Specific Plan.
“There could be a big increase in vehicular activity,” said Lt. Steve Kegley of the Moorpark College campus police. “If incidents do increase, we’d probably have to get more officers. But this is almost all speculation.” Ray Di Guilio, Vice President of Business Services at Moorpark College, added that Moorpark College will need new parking lots to accommodate the projected enrollment figures of 19,000 students, whether or not Moorpark or someone else builds them.
At a board meeting on Oct. 11, the Ventura County Community College District trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the developer, North Park Communities, Lp. to exchange 8.6 acres of land for a new 670 space parking lot for Moorpark Campus and a four-lane arterial offramp that would help accommodate new and returning students. The MOU mentions plans to help alleviate the light pollution that the proposed development would bring to the college’s astronomy program by either providing a sizable compensation of $500,000 or upgrading and moving the observatory to a more isolated location north of the campus and the development. The MOU is in conjunction with a specific plan made by North Park to create 1,680 homes in a 3,544-acre residential developmental project known as the North Park Village and Nature Preserve, located in the hills to the north of Moorpark College.
Moorpark College administration has neither supported nor opposed the project. Moorpark city residents will have the final say Feb. 28 when they vote in a special city election. If approved, this development may begin construction in as little as three to four years.
Moorpark campus police, however, aren’t that worried. Lt. Steven Kegley was optimistic about the development.
“Anytime you bring in that many people, there’s a risk for increased criminal activity,” said Kegley. “However, Moorpark has a very low crime rate. It may become a problem, it may not.”
The development would feature a recreational lake, a community park, a new site for an elementary school, a retail center and a nature preserve.
