HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2023 1018 CCSA REG ITEM 10FCITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of October 18, 2023
ACTION APPROVED STAFF
RECOMMENDATION.
BY A. Hurtado.
F. Consider Report of Annual Review of a Development Agreement Established in
Connection with Industrial Planned Development Permit No. 2009-01 (Moorpark
West Studios), Located at 11289 Los Angeles Avenue, on the Application of Broad
Reach Power. Staff Recommendation: Accept the Community Development
Director’s report and recommendation that, on the basis of substantial evidence,
Broad Reach Power has complied in good faith with the terms and conditions of
the Development Agreement; and 2) Deem the 2023 annual review for this project
complete. (Staff: Carlene Saxton, Community Development Director)
Item: 10.F.
Item: 10.F.
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Carlene Saxton, Community Development Director
BY: Adam Pisarkiewicz, Contract Planner
DATE: 10/18/2023 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Report of Annual Review of a Development Agreement
Established in Connection with Industrial Planned Development
Permit No. 2009-01 (Moorpark West Studios), Located at 11289 Los
Angeles Avenue, on the Application of Broad Reach Power
BACKGROUND
Government Code Section 65864 and City of Moorpark Municipal Code Section 15.40 provide
for Development Agreements between the City and property owners in connection with
proposed plans of development for specific properties. Development Agreements are
designed to strengthen the planning process, to provide developers some certainty in the
development process and to assure development in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the agreement.
On October 19, 2011, the Moorpark City Council adopted Ordinance No. 409 (effective
November 30, 2011) approving a Development Agreement (DA) between the City of Moorpark
and Los Angeles Avenue LLC, Pegh Investments LLC, The Kevin Newburg Trust, and the
Richard S. Held Enterprises Retirement Trust. The agreement was approved in connection
with Industrial Planned Development Permit (IPD) No. 2009-01, allowing the construction of a
559,450 square-foot motion picture studio campus on 33 acres of property addressed 11289
Los Angeles Avenue, located north of Los Angeles Avenue and west of Gabbert Road.
Individual facilities include 12 sound stages totaling 296,000 square feet, three office buildings
totaling 145,500 square feet, 18 studio support buildings totaling 117,950 square feet, and a
four-story parking structure. The project also provides associated public and private
improvements, including parking lots, landscaping, dedications of future public right-of-way
adjacent to the site, and other improvements.
On February 18, 2015, the City Council approved Modification No. 1 to the IPD via Resolution
No. 2015-3363, extending the expiration date of the project entitlements (independent of the
DA) to November 18, 2019.
On August 5, 2019, the Applicant submitted a request for a five-year extension to the DA and
project entitlements, as well as two amendments to the DA in order to secure fees for future
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Annual Reviews and to clarify the timing for the dedication of North Hills Parkway, in addition
to initiating the Annual Review of the DA. The additional time was requested in order to pursue
a qualified development partner. On November 6, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance
No. 475, approving the proposed amendments and extension request for the DA and project
entitlements with the new effective date being December 13, 2019 and new expiration date of
November 18, 2023.
DISCUSSION
Current Project Status
•Broad Reach Power has since purchased the property.
•To date, no building permits have been issued.
Developer Compliance with Terms of Agreement
The developer’s responsibilities are included in Section 6 of the DA and include requirements
6.1 through 6.26, summarized below. Compliance with the terms and conditions of the
Development Agreement occurs at various stages of the development process. The
Developer has noted the status of compliance with each item.
No. Requirement Status
6.1 Developer shall comply with this Agreement, the
Project Approvals, all Subsequent Approvals for
which it was the applicant or a successor in
interest to the applicant and the MMRP of the
MND and any subsequent or supplemental
environmental actions.
Developer is in compliance with all
requirements at this time.
6.2 All lands and interests in land dedicated to City
shall be free and clear of liens and encumbrances
other than easements or restrictions that do not
preclude or interfere with use of the land or
interest for its intended purpose, as reasonably
determined by City.
No land has been dedicated to the City
at this point in time.
6.3 Payment of “Development Fees” of Forty-Four
Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars
($44,325.00) per gross acre of industrial land.
These fees will be adjusted annually
(until paid) using the Consumer Price
Index (CPI) in accordance with the
Agreement. Fees must be paid prior to
issuance of Zoning Clearance for
Building Permit. No Building Permits
have been issued.
6.4 Payment of “Citywide Traffic Fees” of Twenty-
Nine Thousand, Seven-Hundred Dollars
($29,700.00) per gross acre of industrial land.
These fees will be adjusted annually
(until paid) using the State Highway Bid
Price Index in accordance with the
Agreement. Fees must be paid prior to
issuance of Zoning Clearance for
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No. Requirement Status
Building Permit. No Building Permits
have been issued.
6.5 Prior to the issuance of the building permit for
each building, Developer shall pay an Air Quality
Fee of $0.63 for each square-foot of office building
area and $0.28 for each square foot of building area.
Fees must be paid prior to issuance
of Zoning Clearance for Building Permit.
No Building Permits have been issued.
6.6 (This section is intentionally left blank.) N/A
6.7 Prior to the issuance of the building permit for
each building within the boundaries of the
Property, Developer shall pay a Park Fee of $0.50
for each square-foot of building area.
Fees must be paid prior to issuance of
Zoning Clearance for Building Permit.
No Building Permits have been issued.
6.8 (This section is intentionally left blank.) N/A
6.9 (This section is intentionally left blank.) N/A
6.10 Agreement to cast affirmative ballots for formation
of one or more assessment districts for
maintenance of parkway and median landscaping
and street lighting, including but not limited to all
water and electricity costs. Agreement to form
property owner’s association(s) to provide
landscape, street lighting and park (if
necessary) open space land, trails, drainage
facilities maintenance and compliance with
NPDES requirements.
To date no assessment district has been
required.
6.11 Agreement to pay any fees and payments
pursuant to this Agreement without reservation.
Developer is in compliance with all
requirements at this time.
6.12 Payment of Los Angeles Avenue Area of
Contribution (AOC) Fee.
Fees must be paid prior to issuance of
Zoning Clearance for Building Permit.
No Building Permits have been issued.
6.13 Provide for a 50-year life, as determined by the
City Engineer, for all public street improvements.
To be part of the Street Improvement
Plans to be reviewed and approved by
the City Engineer.
6.14 Agreement to pay any fees and payments
pursuant to this Agreement without reservation.
Developer is in compliance with all
requirements at this time.
6.15 Agreement to comply with requirements for
annual review of the Agreement including
evaluation of Mitigation Monitoring Program.
Deposit $25,000.00 for the cost of annual reviews
through November 18, 2021. After November 18,
2021, the Developer shall pay fees on an annual
To date, the applicant has complied with
review requests and Mitigation Monitoring
Program requirements. Payment of
$25,000.00 deposit has been made and
the associated 2023 Annual Review fee
has been submitted to the City.
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No. Requirement Status
basis for each review pursuant to the fees in effect
at the time of submittal.
6.16 (This section is intentionally left blank.) N/A
6.17 Developer agrees that any election to acquire
property by eminent domain shall be at City's sole
discretion, and only after compliance with all
legally required procedures including but not
limited to a hearing on a proposed resolution of
necessity.
No request for property to be acquired
by eminent domain has been submitted
to date.
6.18 Prior to recordation of this Agreement, Developer
shall pay all outstanding City processing costs
related to preparation of this Agreement,
Project Approvals, and MND, should the deposit
fund for this project have a negative balance.
Developer is in compliance with all
requirements at this time. Fund review
ongoing.
6.19 In the event any of the "referenced Index" or "CPI"
referred to in any portion of Section 6 above, are
discontinued or revised, such successor index
with which the "CPI" and or "referenced Index" are
replaced shall be used in order to obtain
substantially the same result as would otherwise
have been obtained if either or both the "CPI"
and "referenced Index" had not been discontinued
or revised.
“Referenced Index” and “CPI” continue
in use and have not been replaced with
a successor index.
6.20 Upon receipt of a written request by the City
Manager or his/her Designee. Developer shall
dedicate the full right-of-way for North Hills
Parkway along the reach of the Project from Los
Angeles Avenue on the south to the railroad on
the north. Developer agrees to participate in a
community facilities district or other financing
mechanism for the construction of North Hills
Parkway or allowed to pay $2,000,000.00.
Commencing on January 1, 2013, and annually
thereafter, the contribution amount shall be
increased to reflect the change in the Caltrans
Highway Bid Price Index for Selected California
Construction Items for the twelve (12) month
period available on December 31 of the preceding
year ("annual indexing").
Dedication and participation in a funding
mechanism has not been initiated.
6.21 Developer to pay for all costs of installation and to
install traffic signals at the intersection of Los
Angeles Avenue and North Hills Parkway and
the intersection of the Property entrance and
North Hills Parkway.
The developer is currently working with
Caltrans to confirm configuration of the
dedication area for the Los Angeles
Avenue widening and improvements.
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No. Requirement Status
6.22 If City, within 5 years of the issuance of the first
final building permit to allow occupancy of a
building on the site, approves a funding
mechanism for a minimum 8 foot high soundwall
for the residential properties on the south side of
Los Angeles Avenue, Developer agrees to pay
City $350,000 toward the soundwall.
No Building Permits have been issued.
6.23 Developer to construct and maintain a private
road perpendicular to North Hills Parkway and to
connect said road to the existing access
easement for the adjacent properties to the west.
Developer shall also extend said road
approximately 369 feet to the west across the 6.0
acre property immediately to the west to line up
with the driveway in the southern parking lot of the
property further west.
No Building Permits have been issued.
6.24 Developer to acquire all necessary property and
Caltrans and City permits, and construct
improvements in Los Angeles Avenue for the
project frontage.
The developer is currently working
with Caltrans to confirm configuration of
the dedication area for the Los
Angeles Avenue widening and
improvements.
6.25 Developer agrees to execute a tri-party
maintenance agreement with Caltrans and the
City of Moorpark to guarantee maintenance of the
landscaping along both the north and south sides
of Los Angeles Avenue along the property
frontage.
The developer is coordinating with
Caltrans to confirm configuration of the
dedication area for LA Avenue widening
and improvements.
6.26 Provide a location and $25,000.00 for a City Welcome Sign on the Project site prior to occupancy of the first building.
To date, no building permits have
been issued.
City Compliance with Terms of Agreement
The City’s responsibilities are contained in Section 7 of the Development Agreement and
include provisions 7.1 through 7.11, summarized below.
No. Requirement Status
7.1 Agreement to commit reasonable time and
resources on expedited and parallel processing of
application for subsequent applications.
To date, City has complied with
any such requests.
7.2 If requested, at the developer’s cost, proceed to
acquire easements or fee title to land in order to
allow construction of required public
improvements.
To date, no such request has
been received.
7.3 Authorization for the City Manager to sign an early
grading permit.
To date, no such request has
been received.
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No. Requirement Status
7.4 Agreement to process concurrently, whenever
possible, all land use entitlements for the same
property (so long as deemed complete).
To date, City has complied.
7.5 Agreement that Park Fee required per Section 6.7
meets obligation for park land dedication
provisions of state law and local codes.
To date, City has complied.
7.6 City agrees that credit will be given toward the Art
in Public Places Fee required pursuant to
subsection 6.11 by the integration of artwork into
the wall required immediately south of the flood
control channel along the Los Angeles Avenue
frontage, if said artwork is approved by Caltrans
and by the City Council.
To date no artwork has been
proposed.
7.7 Development fees based on project area shall be
calculated using the area for private use after
dedication of public rights of way, the private road
providing access from North Hills Parkway to the
property to the west, and the exclusive easements
to the Watershed Protection District for flood
control purposes. Unless otherwise specified,
development fees based on building floor area
shall be calculated using gross floor area as
defined by the Zoning Ordinance.
To date, no payment has been
made.
7.8 Agreement to facilitate reimbursement to
developer of any costs incurred that may be
subject to partial reimbursement from other
developers.
To date, no such request has
been received.
7.9 With the acceptance of the $25,000 City Welcome
Sign contribution addressed in Section 6.26 City
agrees to be responsible for any costs associated
with construction and maintenance of Sign.
To date, no payment has been
made.
7.10 City agrees, to facilitate discussions with property
owners to the west (regarding participation in a
maintenance agreement of the road from North
Hills Parkway parallel with Los Angeles Avenue to
serve properties to the west required per Section
6.23 of this Agreement. City further agrees to
consider accepting said road as a public street
should Developer be unable to reach an
agreement with neighboring property owners. To
the extent provided by law, the City would provide
for reimbursement for the extension of said road
beyond the western property line.
To date, no such request has
been received.
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No. Requirement Status
7.11 City agrees to give Developer credit toward the
payment of the Los Angeles Avenue Area of
Contribution Fee as noted in Section 6.12 for the
cost of certain improvements in Los Angeles
Avenue and for the signalization improvements at
the Los Angeles Avenue/North Hills Parkway
intersection. Developer will not receive credit
toward the payment of the Los Angeles Area of
Contribution fee for the cost of parkway and
sidewalk improvements adjacent to the southerly
property line.
To date, no payment has been
made.
Evaluation of Good Faith Compliance
Based on a review of the Development Agreement Annual Review Application and the status
of the project, the Community Development Director has determined that the parties subject to
the DA have, to date, complied in good faith with all the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it does not
constitute a project, as defined by Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Therefore, no
environmental review is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE
This action does not support a current strategic directive.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1.Accept the Community Development Director’s report and recommendation that, on the
basis of substantial evidence, Broad Reach Power has complied in good faith with the
terms and conditions of the DA; and
2.Deem the 2023 annual review for this project complete.
Attachment: Original Site Plan
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ATTACHMENT
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