HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2021 1026 PC ITEM 10BCITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
Planning Commission Meeting
of October 26, 2021
ACTION: Approved Staff Recommendation.
BY: K. Valencia
Item: 10.13.
B. Consider Finding of General Plan Consistency for the Acquisition of Property at 323
Science Drive by the City of Moorpark for Public Purposes.
Staff Recommendation: Find the acquisition of the property at 323 Science Drive in
conformity with the General Plan and direct staff to report this finding to the City
Council,
Item: 10.13.
MOORPARK PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Planning Commission
FROM: Kat Valencia, Administrative Specialist
DATE: 10/26/21 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Finding of General Plan Consistency for the Acquisition of
Property at 323 Science Drive by the City of Moorpark for Public
Purposes
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Find the acquisition of the property at 323 Science Drive in conformity with the General
Plan and direct staff to report this finding to the City Council.
SUMMARY
On October 11, 2021, the City Council approved the purchase of a 1.23 -acre lot
developed with an existing, two-story, 22,464 square -foot industrial building, located at
323 Science Drive, and authorized City Manager to sign all purchase agreement and
related documents. Additionally, City Council authorized the City Clerk to execute the
Certificate of Acceptance for the grant deed for the property; and Adopted Resolution No.
2021-4047, amending Fiscal Year 2021/22 Budget by allocating $5,750,000 from the
Special Projects Fund (3004) to City Hall Improvement Fund (3001) project C0012 to fund
the purchase. The acquisition of this property would be for the purpose of relocating City
of Moorpark City Hall and Civic Center. Section 65402 of the Government Code requires
the Planning Commission to make a report as to General Plan conformity prior to the
acquisition of the real property for public purposes.
BACKGROUND
For the past two decades, the City has worked on creating a new Civic Center campus,
including a new City Library and City Hall at its current location northwest of High Street
and Moorpark Avenue. Developing a new Civic Center was originally initiated because
City operations were outgrowing the existing City Hall buildings, significant maintenance
costs were being incurred, and extensive renovation work would be required to bring the
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buildings up to current Building Code standards. The Community Center was the first
structure built by the County of Ventura in 1980 and served as the first office space for
City staff after the City's incorporation in 1983. In 1987, the Administration building was
constructed. The Active Adult Center buildout and kitchen addition were completed in
1989. Sometime in the mid to late 1990's the City added a triple wide modular unit, which
currently houses the Information Technology staff and storage areas. In 2006, the office
space at City Hall was further expanded by leasing additional temporary modular office
buildings to accommodate the Community Development and Public Works Departments,
and the relocated public counter, as well as an expanded breakroom and file storage
space. In 2010, in recognition of the fact that the need for the modular buildings would
exceed the initial lease term, the City purchased the modular office buildings.
Over the years, due to the economy and other City priorities, a new Civic Center campus
was never developed. In 2018, the City Council directed staff to complete a
comprehensive Civic Center Master Plan to determine the location and orientation of the
City Hall buildings to occupy the site. This Master Plan process was undertaken as the
location for the new Library was also being determined. To that end, staff entered into an
agreement with CWA AIA, Inc. (CWA) for the design of a new Library and creation of the
Civic Center Master Plan. The Civic Center Master Plan process began in January 2019
with a detailed site analysis and space needs study. CWA gathered data regarding the
Civic Center site by reviewing building plans for the existing Civic Center buildings,
historical reports of the site and surrounding developments, and conducting group and
individual interviews with the City Manager and Department Heads regarding their
departmental functions. Through the space needs study, CWA determined that a future
City Hall building should be approximately 22,000 square -feet in size to accommodate
current and future staffing needs, as well as a City Council meeting chamber.
Various concepts of a Civic Center Master Plan were presented by CWA to the City
Council on July 15, 2020, and the City Council approved the final Civic Center Master
Plan design with a determination made on the location of the new Library. As part of that
approval, a phased approach to construct the new Library prior to construction of a new
City Hall building was also approved. This phased approach would allow staff an
opportunity to evaluate funding options to build a new Civic Center campus. In seeing no
immediate funding source to construct both the Library and City Hall, it now makes more
sense to focus on the Library in the next three to five years while moving staff in the short
term to an alternate location until such time that a new Civic Center site can be built,
purchased, or leased and/or the existing site can be potentially developed for other uses.
There are approximately 19 employees currently working in the modular office buildings,
which includes Community Development and Public Works staff, Building and Safety
contract staff, and Information Systems employees. Four members of the Parks,
Recreation & Community Services Department were already relocated to the Moorpark
Public Services Facility (Yard) during this past year to allow for social distancing due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. In summary, the existing City Hall facilities have outlived their
useful life.
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ANALYSIS
The General Plan land use designation of the subject property is Light Industrial (1-1).
This designation is intended to provide for a variety of uses in the City, including light
industrial service, technical research, and businesses office use within a business park
context. Science Drive was developed as a business park and hosts a number of
corporate uses and support services, including Benchmark Electronics, Lifetech
Resources, and Adventist Health Urgent Care.
Image 1: 323 Science Drive
Image Courtesy of Lee & Associates
Goal 12 of the General Plan Land Use Element prioritizes that a full range of public
facilities and services are provided to meet the needs of the community.
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The zoning of the subject property is Limited Industrial (M-1). Pursuant to Moorpark
Municipal Code Section 17.20.060, "Governmental uses including, but not limited to, city
offices, community rooms, fire stations, human service centers, libraries, police stations,
public utility facilities", are permitted uses in commercial and industrial zones with an
approved Conditional Use Permit.
The acquisition of the subject property would help to implement the General Plan Land
Use Element goals by providing the facilities needed for the continuation of community
public services. The acquisition of property and design and construction of a City Hall
and Civic Center complex is currently included in the City's Capital Improvement
Projects as C0012.
The 1.23 -acre subject property is addressed 323 Science Drive and generally located
north of Los Angeles Avenue and west of Science Drive (see Attachment 1). The property
is currently developed as a 22,464 square -foot, two-story office but has been evaluated
for the proposed civic use and has been found to be suitable. The building offers an ideal
image, convenient location, and features a space that could be utilized as a City Council
meeting chamber. The building also provides sufficient space for staff, includes an
elevator and 75 parking stalls.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: Location Map — 323 Science Drive
Attachment 2: 323 Science Drive Property Narrative
Attachment 3: Budget Amendment for City Hall Improvement Fund
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BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR
CITY HALL IMPROVEMENT FUND (3001)
FOR ACQUISITION OF 323 SCIENCE DRIVE
FOR USE AS CITY HALL
FY 2021122
FUND BALANCE ALLOCATION:
Fund Title Fund -Account Number Amount
SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND 3004-000-00000-33990 $ 5,750,000.00
CITY HALL IMPROVEMENT FUND 3001-000-00000-33990 $ 5,750,000.00
Total $ -
TRANSFER ALLOCATION:
Account Number
Current Budget Revision Amended Budget
3004-000-00000-59010
$ - $ 5,750,000.00 $ 5,750,000.00
3001-000-00000-49010
$ - $ 5,750,000.00 $ 5,750,000.00
Total
$ - $ - $ -
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATION:
Account Number
Current Budget
Revision
Amended Budget
3001-120-00012-55210
$ 1,468,813.90 $
5,750,000.00
$ 7,218,813.90
Total
$ 1,468,813.90 $
5,750,000.00
$ 7,218,813.90
PC Attachment 3
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