HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2001 414 0924RESOLUTION NO. PC- 2001 -414
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE
ADOPTION OF THE REVISION TO THE OPEN SPACE,
CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ELEMENT (OSCAR) OF
THE CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS, at duly noticed public hearings /workshops
conducted on May 8, 2000, by the Planning Commission and Parks
and Recreation Commission in joint session, on July 17, 2000, by
the Parks and Recreation Commission and continued to the
Planning Commission meetings of June 25, August 27, and
September 24, 2001, regarding consideration of a revision to the
Open Space, Conservation and Recreation Element (OSCAR) of the
City of Moorpark General Plan (General Plan Amendment No. 2001-
04); and
WHEREAS, at each of the above - referenced public meetings,
the Planning Commission conducted the public hearings /workshops,
took testimony from all those wishing to testify, and continued
to receive testimony at the September 24, 2001, meeting at which
/- time the Planning Commission closed the pubic hearing; and
WHEREAS, after review and consideration of the information
contained in the staff reports of record, along with testimony
received on May 8, and July 17, 2000, June 25, August 27, and
September 24, 2001, the Planning Commission closed
considerations on September 24, 2001, and made a recommendation
to the City Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MOORPARK, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the Planning Commission hereby
determines that the revision to the OSCAR Element of the City of
Moorpark General Plan does not have the potential to create a
significant effect upon the environment and that a Negative
Declaration in accordance with the provisions of California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) may be issued, pursuant to
Section 15074 of the California Code of Regulations.
SECTION 2. That the Planning Commission hereby
recommends to the City Council, the approval of the Revised
OSCAR Element of the Moorpark General Plan (attached as Exhibit
S: \Community Development \Everyone \PC FINAL RESO \pc 414 GPA 2001 -04 OSCAR.doc
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Planning Commission Resolution
PC- 2001 -415
Recommending Adoption of OSCAR Element
Page 2
A and incorporated herein by reference), based upon the
following findings:
A. The Revised OSCAR Element establishes the policy and
strategy framework for enhancing the overall quality of
life for Moorpark residents.
B. The Revised OSCAR Element satisfies and is consistent with
provisions for OSCAR Elements, as contained within Article
10.5 (Open Space Lands) of the Government Code regulating
requirements for Open Space, Conservation and Recreation
Elements.
C. The Revised OSCAR Element is consistent with the General
Plan and other Elements thereof.
THE ACTION WITH THE FOREGOING DIRECTION WAS APPROVED BY THE
FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
Ayes: Commissioners DiCecco, Haller and Landis, Vice Chair Otto
and Chair Parvin
Noes:
Abstaining:
Absent:
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 24th, DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2001.
J ni•e Parvin, Chair
ATTEST:
Deborah S. Traffen tedt
Acting Community Development Director
Attachment:
Exhibit A: Open Space, Conservation and Recreation Element
of the Moorpark General Plan
S: \Community Development \Everyone \PC FINAL RESO \pc 414 GPA 2001 -04 OSCAR.doc
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CITY OF MOORPARK
OPEN SPACE, CONSERVATION,
AND RECREATION ELEMENT
Prepared By:
The Planning Corporation
Santa Barbara, California 93120
AND
THE CITY OF MOORPARK
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Wayne Loftus, Director of Community Development
John Libiez, Planning Manager /Advanced Planning
August, 2001
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CITY OF MOORPARK OPEN SPACE, CONSERVATION AND
RECREATION ELEMENT
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of the Open Space, Conservation, and Recreation
(OSCAR) Element is to provide the policy and strategy
framework for enhancing the overall quality of life for
Moorpark residents through effective management of open space
lands, natural resources, and portions of the City programmed
for low intensity development within the City's corporate
limit. For areas outside of the City limit but within Area of
Interest or adjacent to the City's Sphere of Influence this
Element supports a program of cooperation with the County,
consistent with the adopted land use initiatives and with
adopted open space preservation strategies (such as the Tierra
Rejada Greenbelt Agreement). Such open space actions can
provide a substantial and viable plan to provide for a
perimeter of low intensity and open space lands which will be
builtout with uses consistent with good planning buffering and
intensity practices.
The OSCAR Element of the General Plan was first adopted in
1986. Since adoption, a number of circumstances within and
surrounding the City have changed which require amendment to
the OSCAR Element. Revised goals, policies and implementation
strategies for this update of the OSCAR Element provide
guidelines, programs, and standards which are consistent, or
can be made consistent, with the City's Land Use Element, is
being considered for amendment.) Achieving consistency
between the Land Use and OSCAR Elements of the General Plan is
one of the primary goals of this OSCAR update.
Another goal is to incorporate new approaches to planning for
the long term maintenance of a proper balance of open space
and land uses within the City and its Sphere of Influence and
Area of Interest .2
1 State of California Government Code Section 85300.5 states that the legislative Intent of the "oonsistency' provision of state
law goveming General Plans is "that the general plan and element and parts dwred comprise an Integrated, internally
consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency."
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 2
Over the past decade and a half, the City has progressively
implemented many of the primary policies contained in the 1986
Oscar. This implementation has involved
(1) setting aside into conservation status (through
easements or other mechanisms) valuable and unique riparian
resources and habitats,
(2) ensuring that the Arroyo Simi has retained it's natural
state to the extent feasible while still enabling new
development within the vicinity of this riparian area (but
outside of the 100 year flood plain);
(3) ensuring preservation of 25% of the land area included
within Specific Plans for open space or open
space /recreational uses,
(4) opposing developments in the City's Sphere or areas
outside of the City's Corporate Limit which are
inconsistent with OSCAR goals and policies, and
(5) implementing Land Use Element and OSCAR Element
policies designed to protect the environment.
The 1986 Open Space, Conservation and Recreation Element
(OSCAR) reviewed current conditions for the air, water, land,
open space, recreation and energy resources as they relate to
the conservation, preservation and management of resources.
This update, while less ambitious, provides appropriate land
planning supporting the Conservation Element mandatory
resource protection goals. Recommendations for proper
management of other non - mandatory natural resources,
components included in the prior OSCAR, are included in the
strategies.
2 The mandatory components of a Conservaflon Element are limited to a conservation plan for the development and utilization
of natural resources Including surface water, soil, wildlife, minerals and other natural resources. In the case of the City of
Moorpark, the applicable mandatory resources that must be considered include biological resources (vegetation communities
and wildlife), riparian communities and surface waters and their management, and soil conservation. Other code cited
mandatory conservation Issues not relevant for Moorpark include forest management, fisheries biology, and mineral resources.
Optional resources and Issues which the Conservation Element may discuss include land and water reclamation, NPDES
related topics, watershed protection, flood control, management of sand and gravel operations, and erosion protection.
(Reference California Government Code Section 65302). Many OSCAR Elements prepared statewide address a number of
issues and topics not required by law. In the present City Conservation Element update, emphasis has been placed on legally
required Issues and therefore the revised Element Is not expansive topically. The Government Code does not require mapping
le"` of natural resources or land use recommendations discussed In a Conservation Element or Open Space Element
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 3
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Issues defined in the Open Space Element requirement set forth
in the California Government Code are addressed in this update
as well. The relevant portions of the Government Code are
contained in Article 10.5 (Open Space Lands). The definitions
contained in the Government Code have been adopted into this
revised OSCAR Element. The intent of the state law is to
ensure that cities and counties within the state recognize
that "open -space land is a limited and valuable resources
which must be conserved whenever possible, and to assure that
every City and County will prepare and carry out open -space
plans which, along with state and regional open -space plans,
will accomplish the objectives of a comprehensive open -space
program (Government Code Section 65562 (a)(b)). Other
important guidance provided by the State regarding open space
planning include provisions that both ministerial and
discretionary approvals must be consistent with an adopted
open space plan (Section 65567) and that local legislative
actions must be consistent with an adopted "local open -space
plan" {Section 655661.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 4
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2. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR THIS UPDATE
2.1. Scope of City Planning Authority Regarding Open Space and
Conservation Planning
This OSCAR Element update outlines City goals, policies and
programs for two state - mandated General Plan Elements (Open
Space and Conservation) and also addresses one related
optional Element (Recreation) . The Legislative authorization
for the preparation of these Elements of the General Plan is
set forth in the California Government Code (Articles 5 and
10). The State of California recognizes that open space lands
are valuable resources whose preservation, protection and
enhancement must be planned since open space is essential for
the maintenance of a decent quality of life in an urban or
suburban environment.
While other General Plan Elements concern issues such as
proper land use, housing, safety, and circulation, the Open
Space and Conservation Elements address resource management
and environmental protection. The recreational value of open
space lands is also recognized in the Government Code. Other
tributary functions of open space planning outlined in the
Code include maintaining public health and safety and
identifying areas that may contain hazards (e.g., earthquake
faults, liquefaction prone flood plains, etc.). The statement
of intent in the Government Code also recognizes that all
natural resources are limited in extent, subject to
degradation without proper planning, and that such natural
resources can be viewed as part of an integrated ecosystem.
Planning for the partial retention of open space and resource
protection in urban and suburban settings is essential to the
preservation of a quality living environment.
2.2. Definition of Open Space, Conservation and Recreational
Resources
Open Space Defined
Since open space planning, designed to conserve resources, has
consequences on land uses, an Open Space Element must
ultimately be consistent with the Land Use Element. It must
provide for the orderly transfer of information about
resources to the overall vision statement for the City in the
�- Land Use Element and reflected on the Land Use Map. However,
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 5
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consistency cannot be achieved instantly. Rather, consistency
develops as gradual feedback from the process of implementing
conservation and open space strategies outlined in the goals
and policies section of the OSCAR Element is borne out in
legislative acts and legislative planning either (1) enacted
by the City or (2) in response to legislative acts taken by
the City's citizens (through initiative and referendum
processes) . The Government Code contemplates that time is an
essential component of the consistency review process
reflected in the requirement to periodically update all
Elements of the General Plan. One of the important purposes
of this OSCAR Element Update is to lay the foundation for
redesignating the governing land use intensity for property in
the City affected by any adopted land use initiatives.
California State Law defines open space land as "...any
parcel or area of land or water which is essentially
unimproved and devoted to an open -space use..." (Government
Code Section 65560 (b)). Such uses are defined as being
included in one of four categories including:
"(1) .....the preservation of natural resources, including,
but not limited to, areas required for the preservation
of plant and animal life...; areas required for
ecological and other scientific study purposes, rivers,
streams, bays and estuaries; and coastal beaches,
lakeshores, banks of rivers and streams and watershed
lands;
(2) open space used for the managed production of resources,
including but not limited to, forest lands, rangeland,
agricultural lands and areas of economic importance for
the production of food or fiber; areas required for
recharge of groundwater basins; bays, estuaries,
marshes, rivers and streams which are important for the
management of commercial fisheries; and areas containing
major mineral deposits, including those in short supply;
(3) open space for outdoor recreation, including but not
limited to, areas of outstanding scenic, historic and
cultural value; areas particularly suited for park and
recreation purposes, including access to lakeshores,
beaches, and rivers and streams; and areas which serve
as links between major recreation and open space
reservations, including utility easements, banks of
rivers and streams; trails and scenic highway corridors,
(4) open space for public health and safety, including, but
not limited to, areas which require special management
r'^ or regulation because of hazardous or special conditions
CITY OF MOORPARK GMNERAt. PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 6
such as earthquake fault zones, unstable soil areas,
flood plains, watersheds, areas presenting high fire
risks, areas required for the protection of water
quality and water reservoirs and areas required for the
protection and enhancement of air quality."
Conservation Defined
The word Conservation is not defined as precisely in the
Government Code as the term Open Space. Conservation
generally refers to planning for the long -term protection,
enhancement, and maintenance of the natural environment. The
mandatory components of a Conservation Element are limited to
a conservation plan for the development and utilization of
natural resources including surface water, soil, wildlife,
minerals and other natural resources. The emphasis of the
Government Code is on water resources and water supply. In
the case of the City of Moorpark, the relevant applicable
mandatory resources that must be considered include biological
resources (vegetation communities and wildlife), riparian
communities and surface waters and ground waters and their
management, and soil conservation.
Optional resources and issues that the Conservation Element
may discuss include land and water reclamation, NPDES related
topics, watershed protection, flood control, management of
sand and gravel operations, and erosion protection.
(Reference California Government Code Section 65302).
Recreation Defined
Under Section 65303 of the California Government Code, a
Recreation Element is optional. The recreation component of
the OSCAR Element is designed to complement the City's Master
Plan of Parks and Recreation. However, the overall governing
document for the implementation of recreational opportunities
for the citizen's of Moorpark is the Master Plan of Parks and
Recreation document.
2.3. Justification for Combining Mandatory and Non - Mandatory
Elements into a Single Document
Government Code Section 65301 permits the combining of
Elements within a General Plan. Open Space, Conservation and
Recreation Elements are complementary and can be defensibly
combined into one document. Since some of the types of
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 7
resources that the State intended to be managed by the
Conservation Element closely parallel the types of resources
managed by an Open Space Element, combining these two Elements
is sensible and can avoid unnecessary redundancy. As defined
in state law, a Conservation Element is designed primarily to
address surface and ground water, watersheds, and natural
resources while the Open Space Element is framed by law to
balance the four major categories of use to which open space
lands may be assigned (preservation, managed production,
recreation, public health and safety fi.e., risk reduction}).
Since recreation is one of the defined uses for open space in
the Government Code, it is consistent to subsume planning for
recreation under the overall Open Space Element planning.
Parks and other recreational facilities constitute one major
type of open space resource defined in the Government Code.
While the Conservation Element is legally defined to emphasize
resource management, the Open Space Element is to provide for
the assignment of relevant lands to categories of open space
use. As such, the Open Space Element is closely linked to the
land use classification process formalized in the City's Land
Use Element. Indeed, the Open Space Element should provide
recommendations as to the use of the Land Use Element to
accomplish the policies set forth in the Open Space Element.
As outlined in this revision, Open Space, Conservation and
Recreation planning efforts are designated as components of
the OSCAR Element, which in its entirety, is designed to
provide guidance for and compatibility with land use policies
set forth in the Land Use Element of the General Plan.
2.4. Relationship of the Open Space, Conservation, and
Recreation Element to Other Elements of the General Plan
The OSCAR Element is most closely related to and should, as
policy feedback occurs over time, be periodically modified to
ensure consistency with the Land Use Element of the City of
Moorpark. The Land Use and OSCAR Elements provide policy
guidelines related to natural resources (e.g., water,
agriculture, soil preservation, mineral and wildlife resource
management) and aesthetic, cultural and recreational resources
(e.g., archaeological sites, parks, scenic areas and views).
The OSCAR Element is also related to the Land Use, Safety and
Noise Elements since one aspect of the Open Space planning
mandate in the Government Code is to find reasonable methods
for properly designating areas which pose risks or hazards if
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 8
developed. In general, the relationship of the Elements is
based on the role of the OSCAR, which is designed to provide
information and policy guidance about resource management and
open space planning. The Land Use Element is designed to
define and determine future land uses. The OSCAR Element
supports and subserves the Land Use Element by providing
information and policy guidance about how best to configure
the range of open space and conservation land uses included on
the City's Land Use Map and in its Land Use Policies.
2.5. Planning Boundaries Referenced in the OSCAR Element
There are five individual planning boundaries defined in the
goals, policies, and programs discussed in this Element.
These boundaries include the following city planning or
jurisdictional perimeters:
➢ Corporate Limit (city boundary),
➢ Sphere of Influence,
➢ Area of Interest,
➢ City- County Greenbelt Agreement Areas and
➢ Community Urban Restriction Boundary (CURB).
The Corporate Limit is the boundary of the City as it
presently exists, as defined by the Local Agency Formation
Commission (LAFCO). Within this limit line, the City is the
unit of governance which provides urban services to its
residents. The Sphere of Influence may include land
immediately contiguous to the present Corporate Limit.
Statewide, the Sphere of Influence is a planning boundary that
represents the expected ultimate limit of urbanization to be
governed and served by the City. Both the Sphere of Influence
and Corporate limit are boundaries that are subject to
amendment, revision and adjustment under the Cortese -Knox
Reorganization Act administered by the Local Agency Formation
Commission (LAFCO), the state agency responsible for defining
the boundaries of cities, counties, and special districts
throughout the state. Formal application to LAFCO is
necessary to amend these boundaries. Annexation is the
process whereby lands outside of the Corporate Limit but
inside the Sphere become formally incorporated into the City's
domain.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 9
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The City's Area of Interest, a planning boundary defined by
Ventura County and governed by the Guidelines for Orderly
Development, represents a larger region outside the City's
Sphere within which no other City may be formed. As such, the
Area of Interest primarily affects the County's ability to
designate land suitable for urban development through the
County's General Plan process. Within Ventura County, a
City's Area of Interest may include one or more Greenbelt
Agreement Areas. These agreement areas, which in Ventura
County can be formed between a city and the county, between
two cities, or between several cities and the county, are
designed to provide (1) a political and legal constraint which
makes the conversion of viable agricultural property to urban
uses difficult and (2) a defined greenbelt which is designed
to ensure that areas of open space and agriculture surrounding
existing cities are preserved to provide natural and
cultivated buffers between concentrations of urban use.
Greenbelt Agreements can be redrawn and redefined by the
parties to the Agreement without the participation of LAFCO.
Land within the Area of Interest is governed and served by the
County until annexed through a process which involves
modification to the City's Sphere of Influence. In practice
in Ventura County, the Area of Interest functions typically
like a Sphere of Influence except that the County rather than
LAFCO is responsible for the Area of Interest boundary
definition and policy guidance within this Area. While the
City's corporate limit and Sphere are not permanently fixed
limits and may be amended, reshaped, and reformed, subject to
approval by LAFCO, the Area of Interest is less precisely
defined or regulated. The City's interpretation of this
planning boundary is that it represents, in essence, the
potential Planning Area boundary for the City as determined by
the Government Code.
In practice, modifications to the City's Sphere of Influence
are sometimes difficult to achieve given the legislative
intent of LAFCO which is, in part, to preserve and protect
viable agricultural lands. The County may (and has) approved
developments within the City's Area of Interest which the
County has judged to be compatible with the intent of the
ultimate urbanization of the City. Formal joint City /County
management of the Area of Interest is supposed to be
implemented through County adherence to its adopted Guidelines
for Orderly Development.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 10
In addition to these planning areas, a 1998 land use voter
initiative established a Moorpark City Urban Restriction
Boundary (or CURB) which was defined as being coterminous with
the Moorpark Sphere of Influence and City boundary as they
existed on January 1, 1998. The City of Moorpark Sphere of
Influence was established by LAFCO as coterminous with the
incorporated boundary at the time of incorporation. With minor
exceptions, the CURB boundary prohibits the extension of urban
services to areas outside of the existing City Corporate Limit
and prescribes a number of changes to policy language and text
in the City's Land Use Element. The Initiative essentially
deleted build out guidance and other references to Specific
Plan 8 text and tabular data contained in the Land Use
Element. The CURB planning limit is silent on the County
defined Area of Interest since this area has not been
confirmed by or established by state law as implemented by
LAFCO.
Three of the six statements of purpose contained in the 1998,
Moorpark land use initiative are designed to preserve open
space, to conserve visual and environmental resources and
protect both agricultural production and environmentally
sensitive habitats. Therefore, in conceptual intent, the
initiative restates many of the City's OSCAR objectives but
accompanies these restatements by restrictions on the process
of acquiring the land base necessary to implement the
policies, goals and intents of the OSCAR. In essence, the
City's conservation and open space planning program is limited
to lands contained within the City's present corporate limit.
Due to the Initiative's relative silence on the Area of
Interest concept contained in the County's General Plan, some
of the objectives of the OSCAR Element can be accomplished
through cooperative agreements with the County to implement a
sphere management policy. This issue is discussed in more
detail in the introduction to the Goals, Policies, and
Implementation Strategies section of this revision which
follows.
The relationship between the voter adopted CURB line and the
City's Sphere is problematic. Electoral planning efforts such
as the 1998 land use initiative cannot preempt LAFCO
modifications to the City's Sphere. The text of the Moorpark
land use initiative adopted in 1998 recognizes the ultimate
�^ authority of LAFCO but, using the Implementation portions of
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 11
the General Plan Land Use Element, specifically precludes the
City from submitting applications to LAFCO that are not
consistent with the CURB limit line. Interpretation of the
competing significance of the CURB line and its relationship
to Sphere Amendments and LAFCO approved annexations may
ultimately require the intervention of the Courts for
adjudication. While the 1998 land use initiative contains a
procedure for amendment (Section 8.4), this process
essentially prohibits modification of the adopted limit line
and restricts the total area of potential adjustment to not
more than 10 acres per year.
The approximate location of the various planning boundaries
discussed in the preceding are illustrated in Figure 1.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 12
x
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z
Area o f I o I a rr e_s �
RURAL ESTATE
RESERVE
FUTURE 0E'VEL0PMENT
AREA
M 0 0 R P A fig K Campus Park Dr.
Los
Moorpark City Limit — C.U.R.B. Line
A r
Thousand Oaks
1 2 Miles
Ventura County Land Use Designations for
4reas Outside the Current City Limits
Rural Estate Reserve County Subdivision
Future Development Area
-- Area of Interest
Simi
Valley
Rd.
OSCAR Element, Moorpark CA
_ Moorpark Planning Area
PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 1
3. OPEN SPACE
3.1. Introduction
As defined in the Government Code and interpreted in this
revision, Open Space is defined as undeveloped, vacant land
which has been (in the present Land Use Element) or should be
(in future revisions to this Element) be reserved either for
(1) low intensity uses or (2) for dedicated open space uses
defined by the Government Code (preservation, managed
production, recreation, public health and safety risk
reduction). Open space land uses can range from restricted
undevelopable reserves where no development is permitted to
passive or active uses such as low intensity residential use,
parks, viewshed reserves, recreational facilities, and resorts
focused on recreation.
Some lands that presently appear to be "open space" in the
sense that no development exists on the property, may be
designated in the City's Land Use Element for development of
various intensities. These apparent open space lands can be
designated for residential, commercial, or institutional uses
in the City's Land Use Element. Such lands may remain open
and undeveloped until the City's housing or commercial
development market sets in process actions by owners or
developers to initiate build out of these lands. Such lands
are open space only in the narrow sense that they have not yet
converted to their planned urban use. Other lands designated
in the City's Land Use Element should, for all intents, be
consistent with the four (4) State Code defined open space
uses (preservation, managed production, recreation, public
health and safety risk reduction).
For the purposes of considering how the OSCAR Element may
support a reconsideration of the land uses defined in the Land
Use Element and on the Land Use Map, a working definition of
open space encompasses all land and /or water in an urban area
not designated for urban use in the Land Use Element that has
value for recreation, conservation, historic or scenic
purposes. Existing developed land may also be suitable for
certain open space uses upon conversion of existing un-
builtout portions in areas of high density housing, to public
parks or private recreation areas. Implementation of this
type of open space conversion could require eminent domain or
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 14
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other forms of acquisition by the City unless included within
any development agreement.
Open space protection in the City's General Plan Planning Area
(equivalent to the County defined concept of Area of Interest)
is best accomplished through diligent efforts to ensure that
development within the County remains consistent with the
Guidelines for Orderly Development. Open space protection
within the City's General Plan Planning Area can be initiated
by (1) defining areas which meet the State Code definitions of
open space and (2) expanding the City's General Plan Land Use
Map to provide land use designations for all lands within the
City's General Plan Planning Area (Area of Interest).
It is important to realize that the County's land use
designations would still represent the code of governance for
non - annexed lands within the City's General Plan Planning
Area. For lands within the City's corporate limit, open space
planning requires (1) adherence as feasible to the goals,
policies, and programs contained in the City's OSCAR Element
and (2) modifications to the City's Land Use Element Land Use
Map to provide for a proper balance of open space uses which
are consistent with the City's development code and other
relevant law governing local government management of private
land.
3.2. Existing Mechanisms for Open Space Preservation
Since a zoning ordinance or development code conveys to
landowners many basic rights regarding the disposition of
land, preserving land permanently in open space - -if such
conversion conflicts with existing land disposition rights- -
may require, through one mechanism or another (discussed
below), legislative actions to obtain the development rights
for areas to be preserved. Alternatively, significant open
space areas can be set -aside through the process of
negotiating the configuration of major Specific Plans or
development projects.
In general, there are five (5) frequently used mechanisms for
the protection and preservation of open space within the
existing law and policy framework in the City of Moorpark.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 15
➢ Open Space Zoning: The City's General Plan Land Use
Element has designated a limited inventory of land as
Open Space on the City's Land Use Element. The City's
development standards allow for limited, low intensity
residential development on most lands designated as Open
Spa ce .
Specific Plans: The City has used the legislative
actions permitted under California Administrative Code
sections governing Specific Plans to require
conservation /open space and biological habitat reserves
within the boundary of Specific Plans. With the
adoption of a 1998 voter approved land use initiative,
this method of planning for and implementing Open Space
land reservation programs for areas outside of the
City's Sphere has been compromised and cannot be pursued
ambitiously.
➢ Deed Restrictions /Conservation Easements: As a component
of Development Agreements associated with various
developments approved by the City Council, developers
have agreed to set -aside significant environmental
resources through the use of conservation easements and
other legal protective mechanisms.
➢ Greenbelt Agreement Areas: The City has, in cooperation
with the County of Ventura, the cities of Simi Valley
and Thousand Oaks and relevant landowners, established a
significant agricultural conservation and open space
buffer between the City of Moorpark and these other
cities through the establishment of the Tierra Rejada
Greenbelt. Other greenbelt agreements can be
established to virtually surround the City with
agricultural protection agreements within the City's
Area of Interest, Sphere of Influence and /or Planning
Area.
➢ Hillside Management Ordinance: The City's Hillside
Management Ordinance has been established to provide as
one objective, the effective clustering of development
on hillside properties to preserve significant ridge
systems or other topographic features defining the
natural boundaries of the City or areas of significant
aesthetic value.
D Regional Planning for Open Space Preservation: While
not yet an effectively used strategic process for
preserving open space surrounding the City directly,
regional efforts by the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy, the Santa Monica National Recreation Area,
the County of Ventura, and cities within the viewshed of
the lands these regional agencies seek to protect, can
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 16
provide significant open space protection for lands
visible from the City which are partially or fully
within the City's Area of Interest as defined by the
County.
3.3. Additional Methods for Enhancing Open Space Preservation
Other than potentially making minor amendments to existing
codes and the City's Land Use Element and Land Use Map, the
City does not need to make significant changes to existing
regulations regarding open space to further preservation
efforts pursued to date with two exceptions: (1) the zoning
ordinance should be modified to provide enhanced density
incentives in exchange for land conservation, particularly in
hillside areas, and (2) the City should proactively seek
conservation solutions using emerging methods of land
protection (discussed briefly in the Implementation Strategies
section of this revision).
Although open space acquisition can provide benefits to a
community, these benefits may require legislative action. In
the case of efforts to permanently acquire open space areas
from private landowners, long term open space preservation may
also include funding the direct costs of acquisition. Direct
acquisition, however, is the least preferred and least
creative of the solutions available to the City to provide for
enhanced open space within the City's limit, Sphere, and Area
of Interest.
There are a variety of methods for expanding the inventory of
open space in the City using legal mechanisms not presently
pursued by the City. The purpose of this OSCAR revision is
simply to refine the existing OSCAR goals, programs and
policies.
Determining whether a significant expansion of the City's open
space preservation program is either desirable or achievable
is not within the scope of this document and should be pursued
as a part of the community's long range strategies including a
detailed analysis of creative open space acquisition programs
(including tax relief related solutions).
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 17
3.4. City Compliance with State Code Defined Components of
Open Space Planning
The importance of open space resources in the overall planning
of the City should be based on priorities established by the
citizens of the City of Moorpark as interpreted by the City
Council. The purpose of the OSCAR Element is to establish the
priorities of the residents as City policy and guidance. The
OSCAR Element incorporates a review of the process of City
compliance with State mandated General Plan definitions
related to open space planning (Government Code 65560fal
through (b[4]). Open space management efforts by the City,
related to each of the four (4) state - defining open space
criteria, are reviewed below.
3.4.1. Open Space for Managed Production
In the City of Moorpark, managed production areas are defined
either as (1) land used primarily for agricultural purposes or
(2) lands that may in the future include activities related to
the extraction of mineral resources. No active mineral
extraction areas exist within the City at this time, but
significant active sources exist within the City's General
Plan Planning Area. Open space lands for managed production
include lands held in agricultural or farmland contracts,
rural agricultural lands greater than 5 acres in size, and
riparian zones which serve to replenish groundwater (primarily
the Arroyo Simi).
Agricultural Resources with the potential to enhance or
protect open space in the City include:
(1) small scale agricultural properties, which are in
the future or through annexation, an
adjustment /extension of the City's Sphere of
Influence, come within the City or City's
jurisdiction;
(2) agricultural lands under the protection of Greenbelt
Agreements;
(3) agricultural areas under cultivation within either
the City's Sphere of Influence or Area of Interest.
It is contemplated that agricultural lands within
the Sphere will ultimately convert to urban uses
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 18
unless specific agricultural reserves are
established by property owner and /or the City.
Agricultural lands within the Area of Interest would
presumably remain committed to such production on a
long term basis; and,
(4) agricultural lands placed in production on private
open space within major developments.
3.4.2. Open Space for Preservation
Several existing City legislative tools (Greenbelt Agreement
Areas, Specific Plan open space set - asides, Hillside
Management Ordinance cluster development incentives, lands
preserved in Conservation Easement status through
implementation of Development Agreements) exist to ensure that
portions of existing hillsides and valley floor properties are
set aside for both open space and conservation purposes. Areas
suitable for preservation as open space include scenic road
corridors, drainage areas /channels, and viewsheds that provide
visual enhancement and pleasure which are worthy of
preservation for aesthetic, historical, topographic, cultural
or biological concerns.
The purposes of the effort to place some open space into long
term preservation status are:
(1) to ensure that the urban environment is
buffered by a greenbelt of natural vegetation,
scenic value and agricultural activity;
greenbelts assist in defining the scope and
breadth of the urban area the greenbelts
surround;
(2) to provide a sense of physical boundaries to
enable the City's citizens to visualize or
sense that a certain natural domain, defined by
prominent features such as mountains, is the
natural rather than legal boundary of their
home environment. Such a sense of boundary is
essential to such intangibles as personal
identification with the City as a place to
live;
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 19
(3) to ensure the protection of essential riparian
corridors in the City which preserves a sense
of relationship to water, the primary life
source. This includes major blueline streams,
such as the Arroyo Simi in the City, which
contain well established riparian corridors;
(4) to plan for the long term preservation of
habitat for wildlife and to preserve examples
of the natural communities which comprise the
setting for the built environment in the City.
These efforts support the efforts to slow the
on -going national process of rendering native
plants and animals extinct.
Planning and legal mechanisms available to the City for
implementing these objectives are sufficient. In addition to
those existing mechanisms referenced in the section titled
Existing Mechanisms for Open Space Preservation, two (2) of
the Planning Area Boundaries referenced, the Sphere of
Influence and the Area of Interest (or General Plan Study
Area), can assist in implementing open space preservation
goals. Since development intensity in these areas is limited,
lands within these two (2) types of Planning Areas can
function as interim open space resources (in the case of the
Sphere) and as permanent open space (within the Area of
Interest). Simply by defining the limits of urban development
properly and ensuring that development is consistent with the
rules and regulations governing these Planning Areas,
significant open space, either for managed production or
preservation, can be retained without further effort or action
by the City.
Additional efforts to preserve open space can be achieved by
establishing a Rural Estate Reserve (RER) designation in the
City's Land Use Element and Zoning Code and assigning this
designation to appropriate properties on the City's General
Plan Land Use Map. Creating this new designation is designed
to implement the citizen decision - making set forth in the 1998
adopted initiative. The purpose of this Rural Estate Reserve
designation is to provide an appropriate designation for lands
affected by that initiative. This land use designation would
provide for (1) retaining the open space uses and values of
lands affected by that initiative until such lands may be
developed consistent with land use policy to be provided in
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 20
amendments to the Land Use Element. The minimum lot area for
the designation would be twenty (20) acres. Other constraints
and opportunities related to this designation are defined in
Policies 8.1 through 8.4 of this Element. The incorporation
of this new designation into the City's Land Use Element, Land
Use Map and OSCAR furthers the objectives of open space
preservation. The recommended distribution of this
designation in relation to the City's Area of Interest and
Sphere of Influence is illustrated in Figure 1
3.4.3. Open Space for Recreation
The California Government Code defines recreation as an
essential use of Open Space lands. Recreation - oriented open
spaces include local, regional, state and national parks. Open
space reserved for recreation must be carefully coordinated
with county, state, and federal efforts to secure and preserve
open space lands within the greater Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area. Recreational .lands may be public or
private, and may provide either passive or active recreational
opportunities in the interest of public recreation and leisure
enjoyment. Recreationally oriented open space facilities
include recreational access routes, scenic roads, bicycle
trails, hiking and equestrian trails. Most of these trails,
routes and roads all involve extensions beyond the City's
corporate limit into the Sphere of Influence, Area of
Influence, and land within the unincorporated area in the sub-
region.
3.4.4. Open Space for Risk Reduction
The California Government Code states that one (1) important
aspect of open space planning is the identification of areas
of potential risk to the public associated with development
which should be placed in land use categories designed to
provide special protection and limited potential for build
out. The existing designation applied to such lands in the
Land Use Element is OS -RP (Open Space- Resource Protection).
Protected open space assigned this designation is designed to
identify on the City's Land Use Map (in the Land Use Element)
locations within the City where hazardous conditions or
habitat preservation exist. Other examples of protective open
space include flood plains (the Arroyo Simi), fault zones
(Alquist Priolo areas), or significant landslide areas not
r- suitable for development that may pose a threat to the health,
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 21
safety and welfare of the public. With the exception of the
Arroyo Simi, Open Space designation for Resource Protection
designed to minimize exposure to hazards is infrequently
applied on the City's Land Use Map.
3.5. Existing Designated Open Space in the City of Moorpark
and Surrounding Planning Areas
The array of legislative and planning actions usually employed
by cities to provide coherent open space management programs
have been adopted by the City of Moorpark. This Update to the
OSCAR recommends only minor amendments to policies designed to
implement these strategies for open space planning. The
following presents a summary of the City's present open space
planning program and indicates which program elements are
proposed for minor revisions.
3.5.1. Land Use Element Open Space General Plan
Designations and Related Zoning:
The City's General Plan Land Use Element includes both public
and private open space lands which have been placed by the
!' City in Open Space or Open Space Resource Protection land use
categories. Unless designated for Resource Protection, the
City's development standards allow for limited, low intensity
residential development on most lands designated as Open
Space. In addition to existing Land Use protections of open
space, coincident with the OSCAR Element 2000, a development
of a new twenty (20) acre minimum Rural Estate Reserve
designation, provides significant new commitments to retaining
land in open space or allowing uses consistent and compatible
with such designations within the City and within the City's
Sphere of Influence and Planning Area.
3.5.2. Specific Plan Regulations:
The City has used the legislative actions permitted under
California Administrative Code and Government sections
governing Specific Plans to require conservation /open space
reserves within the boundary of Specific Plans. Policy in
the Goals, Policies and Programs portion of the OSCAR Element
2000, have included minor modifications to this general open
space planning provision.
CITY OF MOORPARK GMMCRAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PARR 22
3.5.3. Deed Restrictions /Conservation Easements:
Applicants and /or developers, as a component of Development
Agreements associated with various developments approved by
the City Council, areas with conservation or scenic open space
value, have agreed to set -aside significant environmental
resources through the use of conservation easements and other
legal protective mechanisms. New and additional policy
guidance and implementation programs to further this effort at
open space conservation have been included in the OSCAR 2000
Update.
3.5.4. Greenbelt Agreement Areas:
The City has, in consultation with Ventura County, adjacent
cities, and affected landowners, established a significant
agricultural conservation and open space buffer between the
Cities of Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley as well as
Ventura County through the establishment of the Tierra Rejada
Greenbelt. As defined by the cooperating entities, a
greenbelt is... "an area consisting of prime agricultural or
other open space land," as defined in the Government Code,
that is preserved in agriculture or other open space use.
This Greenbelt Agreement area in the Tierra Rejada Valley is
included in Moorpark's Area of Interest. This Agreement is
one essential component of the City's long -term commitment to
open space planning. Other greenbelt agreements can be
established to virtually surround the City with agricultural
protection agreements within the City's Area of
Interest.3.5.5. Hillside Management Ordinance:
The City's Hillside Management Ordinance has been established
to provide for effective clustering of development upon
hillside properties and to preserve significant ridgelines
defining the natural visual boundaries of the City and it's
General Plan Study Area. No new legislative changes are
required to continue using this method of preserving scenic
viewsheds.
3.5.6. Regional Planning for Open Space Preservation:
While not yet an effectively used strategic process for
preserving open space surrounding the City directly, regional
efforts by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Santa
Monica National Recreation Area, the County of Ventura, and
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 23
cities within the viewshed of the lands these regional
agencies seek to protect, can provide significant open space
protection for lands visible from the City which are partially
or fully outside the City's Area of Interest. The OSCAR
Update 2000, includes policy designed to guide City
participation in this regional effort and other policy
designed to offset the loss of land base for conservation and
open space planning which resulted from recent Moorpark land
use initiative.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 24
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Key � OSk, "Ad{ Er'ernent, Moorpark CA
t _ Potential Open Space
Public Recreational Open Space -- City of Moorpark - ♦� �,ry s.�;c"� a "� ry �° °
z __ i` Public and Private Open Space, _ y;
r Natural Open Space -�� Private Recreational Open Space — Tract Boundaries p�.,� and Habitat Conservation Areas
I __ Isli
Natural Detention Basin 0 2000 4000 Feet
a Habitat Conservation Area PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 2
4. CONSERVATION
4.1. Introduction
For the purposes of this Element, conservation is defined to
include:
(1) the planned management of natural resources;
(2) the application of good planning practices to the
preservation of agricultural lands and resources;
and,
(3) the identification of procedures for the diligent
implementation of existing law designed to provide
for soil, water, and land conservation (e.g., local
implementation of regional NPDES programs,
coordinated water quality enhancement efforts in
consultation with state agencies, etc.).
The California Government Code citations concerning the
required contents of a Conservation Element clearly emphasize
the overall importance of surface and groundwater quality
management, erosion control programs, watershed management,
and flood control. Unlike other components of the General
Plan, the Conservation Element, particularly for a relatively
small City, can largely be implemented through the application
of standard engineering practice in the development review
process.
Many of the primary resources defined in the Government Code
for a Conservation Element (Code Section 65302 (d)) are absent
in the City of Moorpark. The City lacks any identified
important mineral extraction sites that could be harvested
without substantial and adverse impacts on the quality of
urban and suburban life. Indeed, one of the City's primary
quality of life management issues is determining how to
mitigate the effects, within the corporate limits, of such
extraction uses within the City's Area of Interest, while not
impinging trade or land use rights prescribed by the County.
The City lacks substantial water bodies that are a
prerequisite for an economically viable fishery. Given the
basic types of vegetation communities within the City's
boundary and Area of Interest, provisions for timber
f- harvesting and the management of forest dwelling wildlife
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 26
r^
/�
species are also not relevant. The City lacks other
referenced resources typically addressed in a Conservation
Element such as undeveloped watersheds, harbors, significant
oil or mineral extraction sites, and other natural resources
subject to the competitive uses by recreational and economic
interest groups.
As defined by State General Plan Law, the City's conservation
responsibilities are relatively narrow and refer primarily to
(1) surface water management responsibilities (in the Arroyo
Simi and its tributaries), (2) flood control planning, (3)
reviewing and approving developments for compliance with
resource protection categories identified in the California
Environmental Quality Act, Federal Endangered Species Act and
California Endangered Species Act (e.g., rare plant
communities and associated wildlife, cultural resources).
While it is desirable to have established policy guidance
relative to resources considered as part of the environmental
review process in a Conservation Element, such guidance is not
explicitly required by State Planning Law. Conservation
citations in State Planning Law make no reference to
agricultural resources. Nonetheless, the City may and has
elected to include some general policy guidance relative to
such resources. The basic use of this policy guidance is to
provide interpretation of CEQA by the City. Given the
relatively modest size of the City and the absence of major
forests, bodies of water, harbors, wildlife sanctuaries,
economically useful natural resources, and other natural
entities referenced in State Planning Law, the scope of the
Conservation Element, compared to the Open Space Element, is
narrow.
4.2. Applicable Resources Governed by Conservation Element
Policy
4.2.1. Land Resources
Compared to the highly urbanized portions of the greater Los
Angeles region south of the City of Moorpark, the land
inventory in the City is relatively small. Consistent with
development patterns in Southern California, much of the land
in the City is committed to present or future urban uses. At
build out, as amended by a 1998 voter approved land use
initiative, the City is projected to have a population of less
than 35,000 persons occupying about 12,500 dwelling units (an
CITY OF 14DORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 27
average unit density of about 2.8 persons per dwelling) .
Despite the general prevalence of agriculture in the
surrounding region, the City itself lacks a significant and
viable agricultural industry. Most of the primary watersheds
along the southern boundary of the City have already been
developed and approvals have been obtained or are pending for
watersheds in the northern portion of the City. The primary
remaining natural feature within the City is the Arroyo Simi,
which meanders in an east -west orientation through the central
floodplain north and south of Los Angeles Avenue. Viable and
producing agricultural lands are present to the west of the
City and the highly urbanized Simi Valley is to the east.
Through diligent implementation of existing policy and careful
development- specific planning, important enclaves of open
space, riparian tributaries to the Arroyo Simi, and hillside
areas have been protected from development and conserved in a
natural state.
Nearly all significant undeveloped land surrounding the City
with some potential for conservation management is situated
outside of the City's Sphere of Influence but within the
City's General Plan Study Area (Area of :Interest). Therefore,
while this Conservation Element addresses these land areas, it
is important to recognize that without LAFCO action to amend
the City's Sphere of Influence and to annex such land areas
(an action generally precluded by the 1998 land use
initiative), conservation planning outside of the City's area
of primary legal responsibility (the Corporate Limit and
existing sphere) is advisory only. All lands outside of the
City's Corporate Limit are within the County of Ventura and
are governed by County regulations and land use policy.
Consistent with pending changes to the City's Land Use
Element, this area, in its entirety, is proposed to be
designed as Rural Estate Reserve (RER).
4.2.2. Agricultural Lands
Virtually no significant viable agricultural operations are
present within the City's Corporate Limit /Sphere of
Influence /Urban limit line.
The distribution of dedicated (land in production)
agricultural lands within the City's Area of Interest is also
rather limited. With the exception of the Tierra Rejada
.- Greenbelt, which separates the City of Camarillo and the
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 28
0
unincorporated but urbanized Santa Rosa Valley from the City
of Moorpark, nearly all land east and south of the City are
committed to urban uses (including lands within the Cities of
Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks and unincorporated lands between
these urban centers). Agricultural operations outside of the
City but within the Area of Interest are generally limited to
orchards, low density grazing lands, and estate (family) farms
along the City's northern, eastern, and western perimeter. To
the north, these orchard and small scale family farm
operations are irregularly distributed between the City's
corporate limit and the ridge system defining the topographic
separation between the Little Simi Valley (where Moorpark is
situated) and the Santa Clara River Valley (where the City of
Fillmore is situated) . Many of these agricultural uses are
west of the City in the lower -lying portions of the Little
Simi Valley, agricultural enterprises and land uses dominate
most available land. Extensive row crop agriculture
operations inter - planted with orchards span the entire area
between the City's western boundary to the Oxnard plain.
In the Ventura County adopted Map of Locally Important
Farmlands and on the inventory of prime farmlands by the
state, lands within the City of Moorpark are designated as
areas representing "urban and built -up lands" or lands with
limited production potential. These designations are
consistent with the history of agricultural land use in the
City. With some exceptions on the State inventory, neither
regional nor local land inventories consider the existing City
of Moorpark as an area of important farmland. Lands within
the City's Area of Interest have been designated by the County
for rural low- density residential development (often with a 40
acre minimum parcel size designation) which has encouraged the
perpetuity of both major. corporate farming operations and
individual, small scale agricultural enterprises.
Based on the United States Soil Conservation Service mapping
of the soils of California as interpreted in the State
inventory of important farmlands, Moorpark does contain some
areas with prime soils suitable for diverse agricultural uses.
These designations are generally limited to the deep alluvial
soils adjacent to the Arroyo Simi (now largely committed to
urban use) and the Tierra Rejada Valley situated immediately
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PACE 29
south of the City limits.3 Typically, prime farmlands have
physical and chemical features which would facilitate the
abundant production of agricultural crops such as deep soils,
lack of bedded clay lenses, balanced silt and soil content,
high soil nutrient values, etc..
In summary, within the City's boundary, nearly all lands
designated as "prime" have been previously committed to
urbanization. Valuable agricultural lands to the south have
been largely protected through incorporation into the Tierra
Rejada Greenbelt. More marginal lands to the north are under
production in a sporadic and discontinuous grid of orchard
production. The most significant farmlands near the City are
located west in the lower Little Simi Valley as it trends
southwesterly to the Oxnard Plain. The City itself does not
have important agricultural resources capable of supporting
viable agricultural operations.
4.2.3. Soils and Watershed Protection
A general description of the soil types in the Moorpark area
is provided by the USDA Soil Conservation Soils Map
(referenced in footnote 3). Soils in the City of Moorpark and
within its Area of Interest reveal soils conditions classified
as fair to poor for agricultural production. Nevertheless,
soil types classified as Capability Classes I and II are found
south of Los Angeles Avenue. These soils are suitable for
urban development as well as limited agricultural use. Most
of Moorpark is characterized by soils of the Rincon- Huerhuero-
Azule Association. These soils are characterized as level to
moderately steep, very deep well drained to moderately well
drained, very fine sandy loams to silty clay loams; this soil
type has a slowly to very slowly permeable sandy clay subsoil.
Soils of this association in non -urban environments are
typically good for use as range, citrus crops, and field
3 The U.S. Soil Conservation Service prepares soil maps Illustrating ratings for the County of Ventura to detenrdne suitability
for fanning. On this map, the City of Moorpark and Its area of interest is generally shown to be within Capability Classes VI and
VII to the north of Los Angeles Avenue, and in Classes 1 through IV Just south of Los Angeles Avenue. Capability classes of
soils for agricultural purposes are described as follows:
• Very good to good — Capability Classes I and II.
• Fair to poor — Capability Classes III and IV.
• Very poor — Capability Classes VI and VII.
• Unsuited — Capability Classes VII1.1
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service Suitability for Forming Venture
County, California. September 1969.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 30
F"
groundwater. Nonetheless, the City has participated and will
continue to cooperate with planning and water resource
management programs that evolve out of regional studies such
as the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management Plan.
4.2.4. Hillsides and Ridgelines (Visual Resources)
The most important existing regulation adopted by the City
designed to protect the view corridors surrounding the City is
the City's Hillside Management Ordinance. The City of
Moorpark adopted a Hillside Management Ordinance in May of
1995 (Ordinance 207 and related exhibits) . The ordinance is
comprised of a text and map component; the text outlines the
legislative intent of the ordinance and definitions as well as
development standards intended to implement the overall
purposes of the City's hillside protection program. The
related Ridgeline Map illustrates what are defined as
"visually prominent landform(s) or ridgeline(s)" in the City
from the perspective of the "valley floor ", the lower lying
portions of the Little Simi Valley. Views from the Las Posas
Hills defining the City's southern perimeter and the Tierra
Rejada Valley are not specifically considered in the ordinance
definitions. The relevant ridgelines are illustrated on the
7.5 minute USGS Moorpark topographic quad sheet (scale
1:24,000). The related map is not codified as a component of
the ordinance (Section 17.38.040) and serves only as a
guideline exhibit for the interpretation of the ordinance.
The legislative intent of the Hillside Management Ordinance is
clearly articulated in Section 17.38.010. This intent
statement is oriented to ensuring that, from the date of
Ordinance adoption and into the future, the City's ridges and
hillsides will be protected from major alterations. The
Ordinance is protective in intent but clearly permits
developments to hillside areas, if certain design features
(e.g., permitting density transfers to encourage the retention
of the environmentally most significant portions of a
property) and development standards (grading techniques,
planting preferences, hazard abatement planning) are met as
projects pass through the development review process. The
general intent statement in the Ordinance does not identify
preferred design mitigation for specific projects nor does the
statement prioritize the various methods available for
offsetting the impacts of developing along the portions of
ridgelines that are subject to some alteration as a result of
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 32
r''
crops. Soils with a slight slope are used successfully for
vegetable production. South of the Arroyo Simi, the dominant
soil classification is the Pico Metz - Anacapa Association as
well as Huerhuero soils. These are level to moderately
sloping, very deep, well- drained sandy loams and very deep,
somewhat excessively drained loamy sands. These soils are
typically used for irrigated vegetables, citrus crops, field
crops and strawberries. Due to urbanization, nearly all of
these soil types are committed to urban use rather than
agriculture. Policies designed to preserve extant remnants of
these soil types within the City's urban limit are not
appropriate.
The City of Moorpark is within the domain of major tributary
valleys that drain into the greater Oxnard plain, an area of
uniquely deep and productive agricultural soil. The entire
Little Simi Valley and its minor tributaries descend gently to
the west through a well- drained valley system with deep and
potentially prolific agricultural soils. The most important
and potentially productive soils are located along the
floodplain and Pleistocene era alluvial terraces on the
northern and southern sides of the Arroyo.
Within the more upland parts of the City, the watersheds are
dominated by coastal sage scrub vegetation communities which
are, in places, split by riparian corridors with semi-
permanent to permanent spring and drainage replenished water
sources. Very minor areas with Oak Savannah or Oak Woodland
exist within the City.
Approximately 80% of the watershed areas within the City are
dominated by non - native grassland and coastal sage scrub
communities, some of which, like the Venturan Coastal Sage
Scrub, support small populations of both rare or special
interest plants, birds and other wildlife. Typically,
Moorpark's tributary canyons drain southerly along the
northern perimeter and northerly on the southern perimeter.
Most of these watershed areas are urbanized or are in areas
where approved developments or proposed development are
pending. Therefore, from the standpoint of long term
conservation planning, watershed management is not a
significant issue for the City; rather, application of high
standards of erosion control, desilting, and pursuing a high
standard of water quality in urban runoff are more important
contributors to maintaining high quality surface and
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 31
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- -- City of Moor
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Significant Ridgelines
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- -- Significant Ridgelines
°z ® Valley Floor Transportation Corridor PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 0 .5 7Mile
r,
the exemption process. The underlying but unarticulated
principle in the Ordinance is that it is desirable to
eliminate or minimize, to the degree feasible, the visibility
of commercial or residential neighborhood architecture from
the lower lying portions of the City if such developments are
proposed on elevated landforms.
Potential criteria for exempting a project from compliance
with the hillside ordinance are defined and explained in the
ordinance. The exemption section contains a preamble
paragraph and a sequence of exclusion criteria that, if
satisfied, permit the City to waive the requirement for
compliance with the ordinance. The most significant provision
states that development agreements may be used to exempt a
project from compliance if such an exemption is explicitly
provided for in the development agreement.
In practice, since the entitlements for most major projects in
the City are implemented using the development agreement
framework, this exemption has been used in several instances
where important City ridgelines have been included within
development proposals. Based on staff review of application
approvals, in all of the cases where a development agreement
has been used to exempt a project from hillside standards,
such an exemption was also accompanied by a very substantial,
required conservation dedication or ridgeline protection
effort, prior to the exemption being granted.
4.2.5. Mineral Resources
There are no known significant mineral resources of statewide
significance within the City of Moorpark's City Limits.
However, sand and gravel deposits of considerable sub - regional
significance are present north of the City within the
foothills of the Little Simi Valley and Grimes Canyon. The
mining and extraction of these resources (1) has adverse
effects on the quality of life within some of the City's
neighborhoods, (2) results in excessive truck traffic and
traffic circulation problems along City streets and (3)
impacts local air quality through the dispersion of
particulates .4 The City policy on mineral extraction within
4 An Inventory of mining resources within the City was prepared by the State Mining and Geology Board. The conclusion of
this 1982 study supports the finding that the City lacks significant mineral resources. According to the Mineral Land
Classificabon Map for aggregate resources prepared In compliance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
the City of Moorpark Is located In Mineral Resource Zone Number 4 (MRZ -4). This boundary defines "...areas where
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 34
r
and adjacent to the Area of Interest is that such uses are
incompatible with a high quality of urban life.
4.2.6. Water Resources and Water Quality
The protection of water resources, surface water quality, and
the management of groundwater basins have generally been
preempted by regional planning programs administered by the
County of Ventura and the State of California. This is
appropriate since both surface and groundwater quality can
best be addressed on a regional level. The City's role in the
protection of water quality and the management of basins
involves close cooperation with water purveyors, the County,
State and Federal agencies responsible for administration of
the Clean Water Act and other programs promulgated by both
state and federal legislation.
The most important water conservation plans to which the City
is a party or participant include the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), storm water pollution
programs, the state and federal Clean Water Acts as
administered by the State Water Board, Regional Water Quality
Control Board, the Corps of Engineers, and the Ventura County
Water Conservation Plan, which was developed with the
intention of bringing together water conservation efforts to
encourage the "...wise use of a limited water supply." The
Plan emphasizes volunteer programs to encourage the
cooperation necessary for compliance and attainment of water
conservation goals. The City participates in the regional
management of water resources through CEQA review of new
development to ensure that the impacts of development on water
quality and quantity are competently studied and thoroughly
mitigated. The Circulation and Infrastructure Element of the
General Plan contains additional discussion of long term water
supply planning.
available information is Inadequate for assignment to any other MRZ zone." Just south of the City boundaries, in Tierra
Rejada Valley and the Little Skni Valley, an MRZ -1 boundary has been defined. This zone designates "...areas where
adequate information Indicates that no significant mineral deposits are present, or where It is judged that little likelihood
exists for their presence."
5 West and northwest of Moorpark and within Moorpark's area of Interest are areas in zone MRZ -2, or "...areas where
adequate information Indicates that significant mineral deposits are present or where it is judged that a high likelihood for
their presence exists' These areas are mapped on the Resource Protection Overlay zone, part of the County of Ventura
Open Space Plan (see Mineral Resource Map, Figure 2).
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 35
1
i
i
i
it
Fairview
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Area
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Happy Camp Syncline
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Area of
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AO -1 10- 40acres/DU 08 -1 10- 40acres/DU -- City of Moorpark
Ap -2 40 +acres/DU 09-2 40 +acres/DU Area of Interest
Mineral Resources -- Faultline
Campus Park Dr.
Fault
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Simi
Valley
f OSCAR Element, Moorpark CA
Open Space, Mineral Resources,
and Agricultural Areas
PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 4
4.2.7. Biological Resources
Remaining native vegetation communities within the City of
Moorpark potentially support several rare and endangered or
sensitive species of plants and animals. The three dominant
vegetation types within the City include two native plant
communities, coastal sage scrub and riparian woodland systems
associated with the Arroyo Simi and its tributary drainages,
and ruderal (non- native, modified vegetation planted to or
dominated by introduced species). An inventory of the native
habitats in the City and associated rare, endangered, and
special interest wildlife species is conducted as a part of
project environmental review and all identified, threatened,
or endangered resources are protected through defined
mitigation measures.
Sensitive Botanical Resources
"Sensitive Botanical Resources" include rare plant species,
habitats, and plant communities. Native plants are regarded
as "sensitive" because they are threatened with extinction
throughout their range or they are in danger of local
extirpation. Habitats are also considered sensitive if they
exhibit a limited distribution, have high wildlife value,
contain sensitive species, and /or are particularly susceptible
to disturbance. Rare, or otherwise sensitive plants and
habitats are protected by federal and state legislation. The
Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and
published lists of endangered and threatened species, provide
legal protection for threatened and endangered taxa
nationwide. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has
jurisdiction over the federal program.
California has a similar mandate embodied in the California
Endangered Species Act of 1970 and its corollary laws: the
California Species Preservation Act of 1980 and the California
Native Plant Protection Act of 1977. The California Department
of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the California Native Plant
Society (CNPS) have jurisdiction over the California Species
Protection Laws. Candidate species (taxa that are under
review for state or federal listing) can gain fully protected
status at any time. State candidate species are also protected
from removal or disturbance.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 37
CD 0 1 2 Miles
Z
Key
Major Riparian Corridors
-- City of Moorpark
-- Area of Interest
OSCAR Element, Moorpark CA
Wetland Resources
and Habitat Areas
PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 5 1
In addition to the programs described above, the Native Plant
Society compiles and updates an inventory of sensitive plant
species. This list includes state and federally- recognized
rare plant species, as well as those plants determined to be
rare by this organization of experts. The Native Plant Society
maintains several "lists" in an effort to categorize degrees
of concern. Many sensitive plant species qualify for formal
protection under the California Environmental Quality Act.
These include the majority of plants on the California Native
Plant Society Lists 1 and 2, as well as species that are rare,
endangered or threatened regardless of recognition by the
Federal or State agencies.
The primary methods utilized by the City for the
implementation of inventory and management programs for rare
plants and animals include:
(1) California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review
of developments;
(2) ensuring that all surveys for rare plants and
animals are conducted by qualified professionals
!1 using applicable state and federal survey protocols;
(3) requiring adequate compensatory mitigation for any
project which impacts native habitats;
(4) initiating developer funded regional surveys and
management programs for native plant communities,
rare plants and wildlife; and,
(5) ensuring that any new development in the City which
impacts a qualifying riparian system applies for and
receives State and Federal wetland management
permits prior to the initiation of grading.
Taken together, these programs of actions provide substantial
protection to native plant communities, riparian systems, and
rare and endangered species occurring within the City
boundary.
Wildlife Corridors
The value of a particular habitat or parcel of open space as a
wildlife corridor in the absence of detailed analysis of the
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 39
r-
movements of at least a few of the dominant vertebrate species
that occupy the site is difficult to assess. The requirement
of open space for unrestricted animal movements is important.
Larger vertebrates need larger areas in which to forage or
satisfy other biological requirements. Suitable areas must be
available for dispersal of young as well as routes for
migration of individual species between locus populations to
maintain genetic variability.
The entire City riparian corridor along the Arroyo Simi in its
present form functions less as a wildlife corridor and more as
a refuge or destination area for wildlife. The areas north of
the City (within the Oak Ridge mountain system) which are at
least partially within the City's Area of Interest represent
one of the larger areas of intact, and except for grazing
lands, non - agriculturally converted land within the region.
Imbedded within the regional landscape surrounding the City
are several natural features that could be considered as
potential wildlife corridors. Deep ephemeral washes and intact
streams in the City offer value as wildlife corridors. Open
space planning includes policy recommending conservation of
these potential wildlife corridors and the riparian systems
that are central to corridor continuity.
Riparian Habitats: The Arroyo Simi - Arroyo Las Posas
Similar to oak woodlands in their wildlife benefits, riparian
habitats provide food, nesting sites and cover. With the
presence of intermittent or year -round water, riparian areas
are perhaps the most useful habitats for the greatest number
of plant and animal species (see Figure 5 for biological
areas) .
Wetlands, delineated by the presence of 1) hydrophytic
vegetation, 2) hydric soils, and 3) wetland hydrology for at
least two weeks out of the growing season, are protected from
disturbance. A permit from the Army Corps of Engineers
(Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act) is required
whenever these areas are subject to impacts. The California
Department of Fish and Game also requires a permit for any
project which will "change the natural flow or substantially
change the bed, channel or bank of any river, stream, or lake
designated by the Department [of Fish and Game] , or use any
material from the streambeds, without first notifying the
r' department of such activities."
CITY OF MOORPARK GZ14ERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 40
The Department of Fish and Game requires a replacement ratio
for wetlands prior to issuing permits which enable
disturbances to a riparian system. Unlike the Federal
characterization of wetlands, the State requires only one of
the three (3) wetland parameters to be met at any site. The
location and extent of the existing riparian resources within
the City is partially correlated to the distribution of
blueline streams (identified on USGS topographic maps) within
the City. With the exception of the Arroyo Simi, many of the
riparian systems in the City are comprised of the Alluvial
Scrub Plant Community. These types of riparian systems
generally are supported by ephemeral or semi- ephemeral water
sources. There are relatively few fully developed riparian
systems supporting well- defined Oak Woodlands and Riparian
Woodlands within the City. Given the importance of this type
of system and its comparative rarity, recommendations have
been made to ensure that the few developed perennial riparian
systems in the City be inventoried and, to the extent
feasible, preserved.
In addition to ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial riparian
systems, the City also contains an area with a vernal pool, a
rare and unique seasonal riparian habitat. The pool is
situated within dedicated open space in the Carlsberg approved
Specific Plan development area.
Biological Resource Protection Measures in the City of
Moorpark General Plan
The 1986 OSCAR Element (Open Space, Conservation, and
Recreation Element) stated that the City of Moorpark had no
endangered or sensitive species of flora or fauna. This was
not accurate and probably reflected the status of the rare
plant and animal inventory available to the City at the time
the Element was drafted. Since 1986, a substantial number of
study programs oriented to inventorying plant communities,
riparian areas, wildlife and wildlife corridors have occurred
under the City's guidance as part of the development review
process. This inventory work needs completed and compiled
into a systematic description of the important natural
resources within the City. Implementing strategies to ensure
proper analysis, mapping, and reduction of existing
information concerning the biological resources of the City is
,,--.. provided for in this update.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 41
The environmental inventories conducted by the City as part of
the CEQA review process subsequent to preparation of the 1986
OSCAR have documented the presence of both rare and sensitive
plants and animals in the City since this Element of the
General Plan was first prepared .5 While not specifically
referencing sensitive or rare plant communities, Policy 4.3 of
the Conservation Element articulates the following policy:
"Conserve, preserve, and enhance the quality of biological and
physical environments throughout the City of Moorpark.
Require restoration of those areas unsatisfactorily maintained
or subsequently degraded. The City's Land Use Element also
encourages the preservation of significant native vegetation,
wildlife, and biologically significant open space. The
policies in the OSCAR 2000 update expand upon these basic
protective concepts.
Biological Resource Protection Measures in the County of
Ventura General Plan
Since actions by the City concerning native plant community
management may affect related plant communities in adjacent or
few nearby County unincorporated areas within the City's Area of
Interest (General Plan Study Area), the guidance of the County
General Plan regarding biological resources has some relevance
to major projects situated within the City. The Ventura
County General Plan Goals, Policies and Programs (County of
Ventura, 1988) outlines the following goals pertaining to
rare, endangered or threatened plants: 1) preserve and
protect the habitat listed of state or federally rare,
' A total of 18 sensitive plant spades are known to occur historically In the vicinity of the City. Of these, four species have
been identified during recent rare plant surveys associated with CEQA review. These spades Include the Lyon's Pentachaeta,
a state - listed endangered species, and the slender -homed spineflower, a state and federally - listed endangered spades.
Suitable habitat is present within the City potentially to support the following four listed, rare, endangered, or special interest
plants: Pentachasta bngg (Lyon's Pentachaets), CalodgAUS catalinae (Catalina Mariposa Lily), Dodecahema Ieptocerds
(Slender Homed Spine Flower) and Astragalus braunlonN (Breunlon's Milk Vetch). The City requires that surveys be
conducted to locate rare plants as part of CE CE A�development with the potential to impact native habitats. At least
21 sensitive or special interest faunal species (Including 1 amphibian, 5 replies, 11 birds, and 4 mammals) are known to occur
In the City. Some of these species have been observed during census programs conducted in support of recently completed
EIRs. Four sensitive bird species, the San Diego cactus wren, the California homed lads, the loggerhead shrike, and the black -
shouldered kite, have been observed within the City during the late spring -eady summer months. Except for the black -
shouldered kite, which Is a state fully - protected spades, all these bird spades are Federal Category 2 candidate species for
listing. The endangered Gnatcatcher and Least Bells Vireos are among the recently observed species which appear to be
reoccupying the remnant native vegetation communities In the City and Its vicinity. The City development review program now
routinely requires endangered species surveys as part of the CEQA review process.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 42
r^
threatened or endangered plant species; and, 2) preserve and
protect plant and animal species which are locally unique.
These goals have been incorporated into the policies of this
OSCAR update.
City of Moorpark Preservation, Cutting, and Removal of
Historic Trees, Native Oak Trees, and Mature Trees Ordinance
The City's protection of mature heritage and specimen trees
outlines a basic commitment (City Ordinance 101) that, to the
extent possible, mature trees, native oak trees, and historic
trees should be protected and preserved. Particularly with
respect to urban developments, such trees are considered to be
a "significant, historical, aesthetic and valuable ecological
resource." The City defines an historic tree as:
"A living tree designated by resolution of the City
Council as an historic tree because of an association
with some event or person of historical significance to
the community or because of special recognition due to
size, condition or aesthetic qualities."
1' A mature tree is defined as:
"A living tree with a cross - sectional area of all major
stems, as measured four and one -half (4 112) feet above
the root crown, of 72 or more square inches."
A native oak tree is defined as:
"A living tree of the genus Quercus and species lobata,
agrifolia, dumosa or hybrids thereof."
In order to remove such trees, a tree removal permit is
required. A Tree Report is routinely prepared as part of the
City's development review process for projects that include
proposals to remove or encroach on trees protected by the Tree
Ordinance. These tree reports provide accurate maps of all
tree locations within the area of disturbance that could
potentially directly or indirectly impact a tree through
encroachment, removal or modification. The reports also
include a system of valuing trees and determining replacement
values (if trees are to be removed). The procedures for
implementing the City's tree ordinances are oriented to
enhancing landscapes, preserving important specimen trees, and
CITY OF MOORPARK GMWRAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 43
preserving native woodland environments from development
encroachment.
4.2.8. Cultural Resources and Paleontological Resources
Cultural and paleontological resources are not state - mandated
components of a Conservation Element. However, because of the
importance of archaeological and historic sites to native
Californian descendents and because historic architectural
sites contribute to the overall urban design and architectural
traditions of the City, these resources are addressed in the
Goals, Policies and Implementing Strategies of the OSCAR.
Paleontological resources are valuable because they have the
potential to assist in the understanding of the evolution of
life forms on the earth and within the planning area.
Most of the cultural resources within the Moorpark area are
archaeological sites - places where human activity has
measurably altered the earth. The potential for destruction
of all or portions of an archaeological site by land - altering
activities results in the loss of unique information
10— concerning the development of the societies which evolved in
California over a period of almost 10,000 years. Many
historical sites have been damaged or destroyed making the
remainder extremely important. Other important types of
cultural sites in the City include sacred places of value to
Native American descendents and architectural sites. Sacred
places within the City are generally limited to cemetery sites
within major historic and prehistoric Chumash settlements.
Architectural sites are structures which are standing and have
not decayed to the point where they are only identifiable as
archaeological sites. The City of Moorpark is situated in an
area that was originally part of E1 Rancho Simi land grant.
Historic Moorpark, the area of the original old town around
High Street and the railroad, was subdivided and recorded in
1900, following the reorganization of the Simi Land and Water
Company. The City has a small inventory of potentially
significant historic structures outside of the historic
Downtown areas along High Street between Moorpark Road and
Spring Street.
Paleontological (fossil) resources are, like archaeological
sites, embedded in the earth and often at depth. Most fossil
deposits are identified during grading programs where very
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 44
substantial amounts of earth must be moved to prepare a site
for development. The City has an adopted set of procedures
for identifying such sites before or during construction.
Remediation and data recovery for fossil sites are conducted
in accord with project mitigation measures developed during
CEQA review.
4.2.9. Petroleum Resources
The City of Moorpark currently has no identified proven oil
reserves within its City limits. However, oil reserves have
been identified and production activity has taken place within
Moorpark's Area of Interest. The County of Ventura currently
has jurisdiction over oil production and oil- related
activities that take place within the Area of Interest
(General Plan Study Area). Oil extraction is inconsistent
with maintaining the quality of life of neighborhoods within
the City and therefore the extraction and processing of oil
products should be regulated in the future. Policies have
been included in the revised OSCAR Element to ensure that such
resources are, to the degree possible, consistent with
prevailing law, not extracted or processed within the City
without proper licensing, permits or environmental clearances
and then only within prior existing production fields.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 45
r 5. PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Recreation is defined as outdoor leisure activity which
includes both active and passive expressions of use and
enjoyment. Active recreation includes the general pursuit of
physical activities including solitary or competitive games,
exercise, sports training, or congregation for the purposes of
enjoying the company of friends and family. Passive
recreation includes the contemplative enjoyment of nature,
open space, riparian features, and hillsides and ridgelines
that physically define and encompass the City. Both active
and passive recreation can be contemplative, refreshing and
exhilarating.
Recreation is a crucial element of human comfort, happiness
and well being. Recreational planning should envision and
provide methods for implementing an appropriate distribution
of both active and passive facilities. Recreational planning
also needs to take into account the ethnicity of various
portions of the community to provide a balance of recreational
opportunities that reflect cultural differences.
Recreation can take place on either public or private land.
While recreational planning at the City level is intended to
relate leisure time needs to the availability of public and
private park and open space areas convenient to the location
of various neighborhoods, the City exists within the context
of the larger region of related communities. Planning for
regionally significant recreational opportunities is one of
the important functions of the County of Ventura and other
federal and state agencies such as the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District,
the National Park Service (Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area) and the State Park System.
City recreational planning is appropriately oriented to
providing adequate neighborhood and community types of
recreational experiences.
In 1986, the City of Moorpark developed the Moorpark Parks and
Recreation Master Plan to guide the acquisition and
development of park and recreational facilities in the City.
The Master Plan is designed to "...serve as a statement of
general policy and desired city standards for location and
development of public parks and accompanying facilities, as
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 46
well as community open space areas." The Master Plan
incorporates the long and short -term goals projected to
satisfy the immediate and future needs of the citizens of
Moorpark. Through periodic updating of this Plan, the
recreational program for the City reflects the changing
desires of the community and its component neighborhoods. The
standards, principles, goals and policies outlined in the
Master Plan are hereby incorporated by reference into this
Element to accurately reflect, and be consistent with, current
recreational planning issues and concerns of Moorpark
citizens. The standards, principles, goals and policies as
stated in the Master Plan are incorporated by reference to
accurately reflect, and be consistent with, current
recreational planning issues and concerns of Moorpark
citizens.
5.1. Inventory of Existing Parks and Recreational Facilities
Definitions: Types of Park Facilities
The National Parks
general typology of
considered in master
The City's Parks an
this typology with s
park included in the
and Recreation Association has created a
the range of facilities that should be
planning a community recreation program.
d Recreation Master Plan has incorporated
ome modifications. Each important type of
Plan is defined briefly below.
Miniparks (or "Pocket Parks ")
Miniparks are small, neighborhood serving local parks with a
size of 3 acres or less. Miniparks, which are intended to
serve a population of 500 to 2,500 people, usually include a
range of facilities such as tot -lots, picnic tables and
landscaping. Because of the small size and relative high cost
per acre to maintain these parks, with several exceptions in
the downtown area, this type of park has not generally been
identified for acquisition and development in the Moorpark
Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Neighborhood Park
Neighborhood parks typically range from 3 to 16 acres in size.
The optimum service area for this type of park is about a 1/2-
mile facility planning radius but may be somewhat greater, up
to one mile maximum. These types of parks are generally
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 47
F-
designed to serve a population of between 2,500 and 5,000
residents. Whenever possible, neighborhood parks are
typically situated adjacent to school property to facilitate
the joint use of facilities and reduce the need for
acquisition of land. This type of consideration also prevents
duplication of recreation facilities in close proximity to one
another. The typical features of a neighborhood park include
a baseball diamond, open turf for soccer, touch football or
other field games, tot -lots, picnic facilities with barbecue
features, open space for informal play. These facilities
normally have restrooms and designated parking areas.
Depending on funding opportunities, most small cities (of less
than 30,000 people) will have at least five or six such parks.
Community Park
A community park typically has a land base of at least 16 -20
acres and is designed to serve a population of approximately
15,000 - 25,000 persons. The service area is generally no
larger than a 3 to 5 mile planning radius. A community park
often includes diverse types of facilities designed to serve
individuals and groups of all ages. Community parks may be
!^ designed around prominent natural features. Recreational
amenities often found in these types of parks include lighted
and unlighted play fields for softball, baseball and soccer,
courts for basketball tennis, volleyball, handball and other
court games, preschool play facilities, and courts and play
areas for older children. A community park often contains a
multipurpose recreational building, such as a gymnasium for
indoor athletic and training activities. Community parks
generally include areas for individual picnics, groups and
open space for other passive leisure activities. Public
swimming facilities, indoor or outdoor, may also be included
in Community Parks. Most relatively small cities (less than
30,000 people) have at least one major community park.
Regional Parks
In Ventura County, regional parks typically are located
outside of City boundaries. Regional parks are relatively
large, generally in excess of fifty (50) acres, and are not
included in the City's park planning efforts. However, such
facilities are typically included in City parkland inventories
to facilitate planning the full range of recreational
opportunities for City residents. Regional parks are
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 48
relatively abundant in the Moorpark vicinity (Malibu State
Park, Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park, the Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreational Area, National Park Service
Parklands (such as the Jordan Ranch) . Typical facilities
found in regional parks include campgrounds, hiking trails and
nature study areas, beaches, lakes and golf courses. Although
the City of Moorpark is not responsible for the acquisition,
development or maintenance of regional parks, the City
cooperates with Ventura County to ensure that regional park
needs are met. The City's Area of Interest contains two (2)
regional park facilities, Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park and
Oak Park, both operated by Ventura County.
Undeveloped or Dedicated Open Space
Dedicated Open Space under the control of regional land
holding and recreational entities (National Park Service,
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, County of Ventura,
California State Park System) provides a very substantial
source of recreation opportunities for residents of Moorpark.
The connectivity of open space in the City to surrounding
regional and national parks is an important aspect of
incorporating the full range of opportunities into the City's
plan for recreation. Proper planning of private development
contiguous with major, public, open space areas is essential
to provide connectivity between private and public open space.
Policy guidance contained in the OSCAR recommends that
whenever possible, park linkage corridors be designed with the
intention of preserving open space along selected canyons,
ravines and ridgelines. These linkages should be located in
conjunction with equestrian and hiking trails and as corridors
between parks and natural areas.
Shared Use of School District Facilities
School district facilities can be used, subject to joint -use
agreements, to supplement the range of facilities used for
recreation within a community. Although maintained by the
respective school districts, school facilities (i.e., hard
surface play courts, children's play apparatus, grass soccer
fields, tennis courts, etc.) can be utilized for active and
passive recreation and /or organized sport activities at
designated times that will not conflict with school - related
uses. The City's Master Recreation Plan recommends that where
r- economically and environmentally feasible, "...future park
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL. PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 49
sites should be located to complement future school sites so
as to provide combined facilities of maximum usefulness for
recreational and educational purposes." Coordination and
communication among and between the school district and the
City's Parks and Recreation Department can facilitate the
mutual use of school facilities to meet the City's park and
recreational needs. Ultimately, collaborative use will result
in the expansion of the City's inventory of recreational
facilities and enhancement of the City's overall recreational
plan.
The locations of existing and proposed park facilities within
the City of Moorpark are displayed on Figure 6 nd a
correlative table is provided on the map to delineate basic
information about each existing facility.
5.2. Existing Legislation and Park Development
The California Legislature passed the Quimby Act in 1965. The
Act (Government Code Section 66477) provides a procedure for
local governments to raise revenue to pay for acquisition of
public parks. Each entity is required by the state to adopt
an ordinance identifying needs for public parks and the
procedures to levy "Quimby" fees. Quimby- generated fees and
dedications refer to those conditions imposed on a developer.
Prior to recordation of land division maps, the subdivider
must dedicate a portion of land and /or pay a fee for the
purpose of providing park and recreational facilities to serve
future residents of the property being subdivided.
The code includes specific standards for determining the
proportion of a subdivision to be dedicated and the amount of
the fee to be paid "in lieu" of dedication. The amount of land
to be dedicated or the fee to be paid is based on the
residential density of the approved tentative tract map or
parcel map and the average number of persons per household.
The land, fees or combination thereof can be used only for the
purpose of developing new or rehabilitating existing,
neighborhood or community parks or recreational facilities to
serve the public. To implement provisions of the Quimby Act,
Moorpark adopted Article 17 of the Ventura County Code
( "Improvement Fees, Dedications and Reservations ", Section
8297 -4, Parks and Recreation Facilities, as amended by
Ordinance 3456, September 11, 1979). No additional amendments
to this ordinance were adopted by the City.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 50
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City of Moorpark Sphere of Influence 4
County Regional XW 7, 177 r.�'7777
Recreational Op ace
Exisitng Parklands 0 Parklands (City and County Parks and Greenbelt)
CD Propsed Parklands Tierra Rejada Greenbelt 0 2000 4000 Feet
PLANNING CORPORATION FIGURE 6 1 F__
The Quimby Act, amended in 1982, states that three (3) acres
of parkland for each 1,000 persons is the maximum dedication
that can be used, unless the existing ratio of neighborhood
and community park exceeds that limit already. In situations
where the amount of existing neighborhood and community
parkland exceeds the three (3) acres per 1,000 population, the
legislative body may choose the higher standard, not to exceed
the actual acreage of the community parks owned, leased or
jointly administered by the jurisdiction per 1,000 population
at the time of the last Federal Census. Moorpark's local
ordinance states that the developer must dedicate five (5)
acres of land per 1,000 people that the project accommodates,
or pay such in -lieu fees as prescribed by the ordinance.
Moorpark has adopted the following standards (Table 2) to
determine the amount of land a developer is required to
dedicate pursuant to Section 66977(b) of the Government Code
and based on population densities:
Parkland Dedication Standards Adopted by the City of Moorpark
Types of
Average
Range of
Average /du
Dwellings
Number of
Number of
(5 ac. std)
Persons /du
Persons /du
Single - Family
3.6
+3.3
.0180
Duplex,
3.1
3.0 -3.2
.0155
Medium -Low
Cluster,
2.8
2.6 -2.9
.0190
Medium
Cluster,
2.3
2.2 -2.5
.0115
Medium-High
Apartments,
2.0
1.7 -2.2
.0100
Mobile Homes
1 Local requirements for park and recreation dedications (Quimby Act).
If the developer is unable or chooses not to dedicate land as
approved by the City, the developer is then required to
provide the City 120 percent of the appraised market value of
the amount of land otherwise required to be dedicated.
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recommends
this method by virtue of its simplicity and efficiency in
keeping pace with rapidly changing parkland demands. To
.- ensure the appropriateness of this park development standard
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 52
and to ensure its applicability to a wide range of situations,
the following factors are evaluated and modified in the park
planning process implementing the Quimby Act:
➢ Time and distance from other parks
➢ Demographic profile of the community to be served
➢ Socioeconomic factors and clarification of
community's needs
➢ Cultural and ethnic characteristics
➢ Geographical location and Climate
➢ Available funding resources
➢ Special urban conditions
➢ Local tradition and customs
➢ New recreational trends
➢ Quantity and quality of existing facilities
➢ Relationship to private facilities.
the
5.3. Needs, Planning Concerns and Constraints in Park Planning
Efforts in the City
The purpose of this section is to identify those needs, issues
and constraints that are significant in determining what types
of policy should guide future recreational planning for the
City of Moorpark. In order to plan efficient methods of
managing and preserving the available parkland and open space
resources, it is essential to have an understanding of what
population increase projections have been established for the
City. At build out, the City is estimated to have a projected
population between 34,300 to 44,600, with an estimated housing
stock totaling 11,000 dwelling units to (14,000 dwelling
units). These projections have been modified slightly by the
recent Moorpark land use initiative. Regardless of what
projection is used, Moorpark will experience an estimated
population increase of about 20,000 persons with
implementation of the full General Plan build out. The Parks
Master Plan projects the need for about 225 acres of parkland
to serve this population. The Master Plan should reflect
changing demographics and planning constraints which have
resulted from the recent land use initiative and increased
population growth in the City.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 53
flo-
6. OPEN SPACE, CONSERVATION AND RECREATIONAL PLANNING GOALS
AND POLICY GUIDANCE
6.1. Goals, Policies, Strategies
This section of the OSCAR Element articulates the general
conservation, open space and recreation goals that the City,
by adoption of this General Plan Element update intends to
implement over the period of time that the City will be
evolving towards full build out. The goals set forth in each
Element of the General Plan are usually broad statements of
intent which are subject to modification in the future as the
needs of the City's population and the constraints associated
with environmental conservation change through time.
Environmental protection, open space conservation, and
recreational facility planning goals reflect the City's vision
of its future. However, these goals should also be realistic.
The test of this realism is related to the ability to create
meaningful policy and financially achievable implementation
programs. Goals that establish unrealistic and unachievable
objectives lead to frustration of purpose. Implementation
programs that are not supported by adequate financial
resources are, by definition, poor public policy since such
programs reach well beyond the capacity of a community to
implement its goals. Therefore, in the following statement of
goals, policies and programs, a balance has been sought
between a realistic and implementable vision for the City and
the constraints which affect making this vision a reality.
6.2. Conservation and Open Space Objectives:
Community Design and Open Space /Viewshed Protection
GOAL 1:
The City shall seek to preserve and enhance the unique visual
qualities of the City of Moorpark by encouraging the proper
integration and design of open space into City neighborhoods.
Policy 1.1.
The City shall ensure that t]
City and it's Sphere of Influer
it's Area of Interest, are
development. View corridors
protected and enhanced through
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
e scenic viewsheds within the
ce and, to the degree feasible,
protected from inappropriate
along public streets shall be
streetscape planning. Viewshed
PAGE 54
rte'
protection shall be considered in the review of all new
developments. Open space planning concepts and hillside
community design guidance contained in the City's Hillside
Management Ordinance shall be implemented.
Policy 1.2.
The City shall respect the intent and purpose of Greenbelt
Agreement Areas along the City's perimeter. All significant
new development adjacent to Greenbelts shall provide for
proper streetscape planning and shall include requirements to
landscape arterial roadways as entranceways to the City.
Policy 1.3.
Pedestrian connections between abutting properties and
Greenbelt Areas shall be incorporated into all new development
to the extent that such connection does not create derogatory
effects upon the greenbelt area. The City shall encourage the
construction of bikeways, equestrian paths and hiking trails
to link Greenbelt Areas with neighborhoods in the City.
Policy 1.4.
The City shall require, to the extent feasible, that all new
development underground existing surface, telephone, video
cable, and power lines. The City shall explore (1) methods for
consolidating existing overhead service routes into a smaller
number of corridors, and (2) identifying types of funding
programs to retrofit existing surface power, phone and cable
lines.
Policy 1.5.
The City shall consider adopting a wireless communication
ordinance to ensure that all cellular and satellite based
communication systems installed in the City are sensitive to
open space planning objectives. The ordinance shall address how
best to provide needed cellular service while affording
protection to the scenic environment.
6.3. Safety Considerations
Land Use Planning for Geotechnical and Flooding Hazards
GOAL 2:
To ensure the health, safety and general welfare of the
public, the City shall identify and properly designate the
/ ^ types and intensity of land uses on areas that may pose
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 55
significant Geotechnical or flooding hazards.
Policy 2.1.
In areas designated for flood control purposes (floodway,
flood hazard zones) and particularly in flood fringe areas,
the City shall promote the use of these flood zones for
passive recreational activities, (e.g., hiking, fishing,
equestrian trails, bicycle riding) unless protective
structures are installed which would enable other suitable
uses. The City shall designate significant hazard areas as
open space- resource management areas in the Land Use Element
of the General Plan. Such lands shall be reserved for passive
open space and /or appropriate recreational uses provided
proper flood protection features are installed.
Policy 2.2.
In locations where the Safety Element of the General Plan
recommends that development should be limited or avoided due
to the presence of significant geologic, geotechnical, or
seismic hazards (e.g., Alquist- Priolo Zones), the City shall
ensure, through the development review process, that such
hazard areas are respected in the design of all new
construction. The City shall, where feasible and appropriate,
encourage the use of such lands for recreational purposes that
do not require infrastructure development (e.g., hiking,
fishing, bike riding and low intensity recreational
facilities).
6.4. Open Space for Ecological Purposes
Resource Planning for Biological Diversity, Wildlife and
Agricultural Preservation
GOAL 3:
The City shall endeavor to preserve and to maintain the
physical and biological environment from the effects of
development (General Plan build out). In situations where
impacts to significant biological resources are unavoidable,
the City shall ensure that biological effects are properly
offset through conservation efforts or through the restoration
of affected areas.
Policy 3.1.
In reviewing new development proposals, the City shall require
r' native habitats to be inventoried, biologically surveyed, and
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 56
the consequence of development within these habitats to be
identified. Impacts shall be offset either through
conservation offsets (adoption of conservation easements,
setting aside significant riparian areas in open space,
etc.,), vegetation restoration, cooperation with regional
programs designed to protect the environment, or the payment
of in lieu fees.
Policy 3.2.
The City shall support conservation and protection of
groundwater aquifers and water quality through management
programs established by the County of Ventura, the County of
Ventura Waterworks District No. 1, the State Water Resources
Board, the Calleguas and the Regional Water Quality Control
Boards. The City shall participate in local efforts to
implement regional Storm Water Pollution Prevention programs
and the County's Water Conservation Plan. The City shall
participate with any future regional water quality and water
supply plans proposed by these agencies.
Policy 3.3.
The City shall require that biological and open space planning
studies be conducted as part of the application process for
major Specific Plan projects or development projects of fifty
(50) acres or more in habitat candidate areas. This planning
effort shall be oriented to assembling a biologically
meaningful open space plan for each new major Specific Plan
based development. Consideration shall be given in these
planning efforts to issues like habitat linkages, preservation
of contiguous zones of native vegetation and protection of
riparian corridors.
Policy 3.4.
The City shall require that 25% of the land area within all
Specific Plans be set aside and designed as open space -
resource protection (OS -RP). The following types of
development shall not be credited towards this requirement:
(1) manufactured slopes; (2) roadways or street right -of -way
including parkway landscaping; (3) parking lot landscaping;
(4) hard channel improvements constructed within riparian
zones or floodways; (5) retention or detention basins; (6)
reservoir sites; (7) utility corridors with surface facilities
less than 100 feet in width; and, (8) any other surface
constructed infrastructure facility. In cases where 25% of the
land area within the Specific Plan is not committed to such
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL. PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 57
uses, plan developers or their successors shall be required to
pay appropriate in lieu fees established by the City. No
Specific Plan shall be exempt from these requirements.
Policy 3.5.
The City shall require that all new development proposals
comply with study and permitting procedures implemented by the
Regional Water Quality Control Board (Section 401 Clean Water
Act Permit, the Army Corps of Engineers (Section 404 Clean
Water Act), and the California Department of Fish and Game
Streambed Alteration Permit Process (Fish and Game Code
Section 1600 Consultation). The purpose of this requirement is
to ensure that the limited inventory of riparian resources and
habitats in the City are properly managed and, to the degree
feasible, retained in unmodified condition. Proper
consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service shall also
be required by the City to ensure compliance with federal
endangered species regulations. Surveys for rare and
endangered species shall be conducted as part of development
review for all major development projects situated in areas
where native habitat would be removed as a result of
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construction activities.
Policy 3. 6.
The City shall conserve, preserve, and enhance the quality of
biological and native plant community environments throughout
the City of Moorpark by participation in or adopting programs
to acquire, conserve, or manage dedicated open space
resources. In cases where private development projects will
damage or eliminated more than 50 acres of native habitat,
offsetting mitigation shall be required during the development
review process. Acceptable mitigation programs include
contributions to the management or acquisition of open space
containing valuable or special interest habitats, funding
restoration programs, habitat improvement programs, and City-
wide or regional conservation efforts.
Policy 3.7.
The City shall require that open space within private
development projects be dedicated to appropriate public land
management agencies. The City shall also require that
biological and open space planning studies be conducted as
part of the application process for development projects. This
planning effort shall be oriented to assembling a biologically
f" meaningful open space plan for each new major development.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 58
Consideration shall be given in these planning efforts to
issues like habitat linkages, preservation of wildlife
corridors, assembly of contiguous zones of native vegetation
and protection of riparian corridors.
Policy 3.8.
The City shall seek to protect prime or unique agricultural
areas (as designated on the State Farmland Mapping Study) in
the City's Sphere of Influence and, to the extent feasible,
within the City's Area of Interest (Planning Area). This
policy shall apply to those areas that are agriculturally
productive or that have beneficial qualities for the
preservation of open space or protection of significant view
corridors.
6.5. Open Space for Resource Management
Protection of Open Space from Resource Extraction Effects
GOAL 4:
The City shall protect scenic and recreational resources from
the adverse effects of oil exploration, oil drilling, or
resource extraction.
Policy 4.1.
All oil and gas production sites or development shall be
landscaped in accordance with an approved plan that ensures
that such facilities are screened from public and private view
corridors. All such sites shall be perimeter landscaped with a
combination of large box trees (to provide immediate visual
screening and smaller plantings designed to ensure full and
complete winter and summer screening from adjacent view
corridors. Perimeter viewshed buffer treatments shall also
involve, as appropriate, well - designed and aesthetic perimeter
walls and /or the creation of berms and other screening
features. Landscaping of all screening features shall be
required.
Policy 4.2.
Drilling or production sites and storage facilities that would
be silhouetted on a ridge or prominent knoll shall not be
permitted. Drill sites necessitating significant cut and fill
programs shall also not be permitted. All development within
areas governed by the Hillside Management Ordinance shall
conform with the requirements of this Ordinance. Restoration
CITY OF NOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 59
of landforms and vegetation within any areas where drilling,
production, or storage occurs shall be rehabilitated to
natural conditions.
Policy 4.3.
New oil extraction or proce
discouraged where a reasonable
production or processing would
quantity of the present domestic
the quality of agricultural water
sing activities shall be
certainty exists that such
(1) impact the quality or
water supplies (2) or impact
supplies.
Policy 4.4.
To the extent possible, sand and gravel resource extraction
sites within the City 'identified under SMARA should be
preserved for such use unless otherwise redesignated with the
consent of the mineral- rights owner and /or the overlying
landowner.
Policy 4.5.
Because of adverse air quality, traffic and quality of life
impacts on neighborhoods in the City, including commercial
areas along New Los Angeles Avenue, the City shall oppose any
increase in production or extension of existing or proposed
future sand and gravel resource extraction activities within
or adjacent to the City's Area of Interest. The City shall
encourage reciprocal agreements with appropriate agencies to
ensure proper mitigation of long term air quality, traffic,
and infrastructure effects of such resource extraction
facilities.
6.6. Area of Interest
Land Use Management in the City Urban Restriction Boundary
(CURB) and Area of Interest
GOAL 5:
The City shall create land use designations consistent with
adopted land use initiatives to preserve land for
agricultural, open space, or recreational uses within the
City's Area of Interest.
Policy 5.1.
The City shall establish a new land use designation [Rural
Estate Reserve (RER)] in the Land Use Element. The
implementing development standards for this land use
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 60
designation shall be incorporated into the City's Zoning
Ordinance. The zoning ordinance amendments shall address
restrictions on lot sizes and land uses consistent with any
active adopted land use initiative. The Rural Estate Reserve
land use category shall serve as an interim designation until
the lands to which the Rural Estate Reserve designation is
applied are developed in the future, consistent with land use
policy contained in the Land Use Element.
Policy 5.2.
The Rural Estate Reserve (RER) designation may be applied to
all lands suitable for future urban development situated
within the City's Area of Interest. The designation may also
be applied to appropriate properties situated within the
City's Sphere of Influence and Urban limit boundary.
Policy 5.3.
Lot sizes in areas designated as Rural Estate Reserve (RER)
shall be restricted to not less than twenty (20) acres.
Policy 5.4.
Consistent with any adopted open space and agricultural
preservation land use initiative, intensification of
residential development over the twenty (20) acre minimum lot
sizes shall only be permitted through the approval of a
Specific Plan where it can be demonstrated that, (1) urban
services exist within 600 feet of a property so designated, or
(2) that these services can be extended to serve such reserve
areas while maintaining the integrity of open space values.
Policy 5.5.
Consistent with any adopted open space and agricultural
preservation land use initiative, intensification of
residential land use within a property designated Rural Estate
Reserve shall not exceed .25 dwelling units per acre (one
unit per four gross acres).
6.7. Recreational Objectives
Recreational Facility Planning Objectives
GOAL 6:
The City shall acquire, provide and maintain public parkland
for both passive and active use that is equally accessible to
/� the community on a scale necessary to meet neighborhood,
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 61
community and sub - regional needs.
Policy 6.1.
The City shall encourage the joint use of facilities, such as
public schools, public and private recreational spaces, to
efficiently use facilities to maximize recreational use
potential.
Policy 6.2.
The City shall encourage and ensure equal access to parklands
for all residents, including the young, handicapped and
elderly.
Policy 6.3.
The City shall develop and provide activities and programs
that support both active and passive recreation in indoor and
outdoor settings.
Policy 6.4.
The City shall endeavor to eliminate duplication of
recreational services and opportunities.
Policy 6.5.
The City shall provide recreational/ leisure parklands using
the standards established in the Moorpark Parks and Recreation
Master Plan.
Policy 6.6.
The City shall acquire and provide parklands in areas where
existing demand is the greatest in proportion to population.
Policy 6.7.
The City shall periodically evaluate park and recreational
needs and establish through the Circulation Element, the
optimal corridor alignments for trail systems within
community.
Policy 6.8.
With funds received from in -lieu payments, the City shall
acquire, develop, or improve parklands and /or unified trail
system components consistent with the needs identified in the
Park and Recreation Master Plan and Circulation Element.
Policy 6.9.
The City shall adopt and maintain through a periodic review a
Master Plan of Parks and Recreation as the guide for the
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 62
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provision and maintenance of parkland. This plan should be
updated every five (5) years to be consistent with capital
improvement plans.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005
PAGE 63
r
7.
The following strategies are designed to implement the goals
and policies set forth in the preceding sections of this
Element. These strategies describe actions that the City
should consider to facilitate community goals for the proper
management of open space resources, for the conservation of
important natural resources, and to properly plan for
recreational facilities.
7.1. Open Space and Conservation Strategies
7.1.1. All proposals for future development shall be
subject to a design review process. This process
shall ensure that viewsheds, open space, and scenic
corridors are identified protected and /or enhanced.
Changes in the design of projects shall be required
if development proposals conflict with good planning
practice or with open space or conservation policies
contained in this Element.
7.1.2. The City shall encourage all development proposals
situated within the Moorpark Area of Interest, but
outside of the City's corporate jurisdiction, to be
consistent with the Rural Estate Reserve (RER)
designation and implementing pre- zoning ordinance.
The City shall actively comment upon and attempt to
influence such proposals to ensure consistency with
the RER designation.
7.1.3. The City shall provide the County of Ventura
Resource Management Agency and the Local Agency
Formation Commission with copies of adopted Rural
Estate Reserve development regulations and
guidelines which shall be considered in any pre -
zoning evaluations, agreements, or development
project reviews to which the County or City are a
party.
7.1.4. The City will review at five (5) year intervals its
Land Use Element and Zoning Ordinance to ensure that
aesthetic areas with the greatest sensitivity and
scenic qualities are protected and /or enhanced.
7.1.5. The City Council shall consider the impacts of
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 64
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) on scenic and
open space resources. The City shall, to the degree
feasible, provide for offsets to the impacts of such
projects (such as encouraging landscaping as part of
street improvement projects, developing pedestrian
amenities at parks that lack such facilities,
providing signage indicating trail routes and
connections in and through the City).
7.1.6. The City will ensure that prior to development of
any Specific Plan area, parklands and potential open
space corridors and trail systems are evaluated to
protect the surrounding environment and to provide
reasonable connectivity between open space within
and adjacent to the City.
7.1.7. In cooperation with the County and surrounding
cities, the City shall prepare a plan for a
community greenbelt system. Consideration of an
expansion of existing greenbelts or the designation
of new greenbelts shall include guidelines for
landscape treatments on all arterial highways,
trails and paths. The plan should address the
feasibility of linking existing and potential new
greenbelt areas with other designated open space
resources such as parks, trails and other
recreational facilities. The intent of this planning
effort is in part to provide linkage between both
public and private open space resources.
7.1.8. The City shall periodically evaluate the existing
bicycle, equestrian and hiking trails plan contained
in the City's Circulation Element. Any revisions to
the existing plans should encourage linkages between
viewsheds, dedicated open space and recreational
facilities.
7.1.9. Program implementation of regional trail plans
within the City using development review procedures,
grant programs, and City funded Capital Improvement
programs.
7.1.10. The City shall require all new development to
provide landscaping along arterial corridors.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
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7.1.11. The City shall periodically review the zoning and
subdivision ordinances to promote consistency with
hillside preservation and management planning
efforts designed to protect scenic natural
resources. The City shall review and clarify the
exemptions, definitions, and language of the
Hillside Management Ordinance to ensure that these
provisions are consistent with the intents of the
Open Space, Conservation and Recreation Element.
7.1.12. The City shall, to the extent feasible, encourage
the use of contour grading in areas where
development activities require mass grading in
hillsides. To the degree achievable, the grading
standards in the City's Hillside Development
Ordinance shall apply to all projects situated
within the jurisdictional boundary of the Ordinance
even if projects are deemed exempt from all other
provisions of the ordinance.
7.1.13. The City shall encourage a public participation to
research and identify areas suitable for open space
uses. The City shall encourage the transfer of
dedicated open space to public land management
agencies. Expansion of dedicated open space within
the City shall be sought through the use of private
funds, dedication of conservation easements
coincident with development, or other suitable
means.
7.1.14. An open space inventory and management program to
identify areas most suitable for acquisition or
management as open space reserves shall be
developed.
7.2. Parkland Implementation and Management Strategies
7.2.1. The City shall design and build its park system in a
manner that ensures that recreational facilities and
open space recreation areas are accessible to the
handicapped, young, elderly and any other restricted
mobility populations. This intent shall be
implemented both through consistency review of plans
for new facilities and through surveying and
retrofitting existing facilities as needed.
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 66
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7.2.2. Existing barriers to access of recreational and /or
open space resources should be identified and
removed or modified where feasible. Removal of such
barriers should be completed, as funds in the
capital improvements budget become available. If
such funds cannot be obtained, other sources (e.g.,
foundation and government grants) shall be sought.
7.2.3. In its review of public works projects /plans, as
required by Section 65401 of the State Planning Law,
the City will ensure that recreational opportunities
are included, insofar as these are reasonably
related to the purpose and functioning of the
improvements being constructed. Such recreational
opportunities shall include, but not be limited to,
active and passive recreation, biking, walking,
jogging, picnicking and viewing.
7.2.4. In the conduct of its recreational program, the City
shall ensure that a variety of recreational
opportunities are available to Moorpark residents.
Periodic surveys of the population should be
conducted to determine and evaluate the interests,
issues and needs of the community.
7.2.5. The City, Parks and Recreation staff and Commission,
shall ensure the consistent and timely execution of
recreation programs at hours of operation in keeping
with community needs which shall include
consideration for potential impacts on adjacent
properties.
7.2.6. The City shall develop a program through the Parks
and Recreation Commission to renovate parklands that
no longer meet recreational needs of their
surrounding service populations.
7.2.7. The City shall ensure the architectural design and
landscape plans of proposals for public and private
recreational areas result in reduced maintenance
costs and maximum access and use.
7.2.8. The City shall coordinate with local school
officials to establish hours of use and operation of
joint recreation facilities. Policies, types of
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 67
activities offered, length and time of operation,
shall be coordinated to maximize available
recreation resources and minimize duplication of
activities.
7.2.9. The City Parks and Recreation Commission shall
ensure proposed facilities will serve at least one
of the three types needs: neighborhood, community or
regional.
7.2.10. The City shall acquire, improve and expanded needed
parklands. Priority in the expenditure of funds
will be in those areas with the greatest current
need as specified in the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan.
7.2.11. The City shall require all new subdivisions and
residential planned developments to dedicate a
portion of the proposed project and /or pay a fee for
the purpose of providing parks and recreational
facilities.
7.2.12. The City shall review and revise the adopted Master
Plan of Parks and Recreation at five to eight year
intervals to reflect changing needs and demands of
the community.
7.2.13. The City shall acquire properties that are
appropriate for use as open space, greenbelts, and
parks and recreational facilities as funds and /or
dedications permit.
7.3. Conservation Strategies and Resource Protection
7.3.1. The City shall promote water conservation in
cooperation with the Ventura County Waterworks
District No. 1, Division No. 1, and any other agency
supplying water to the City or protecting the water
quality of the City's domestic water supply. The
City will support the Ventura County Water
Conservation Plan objectives related to providing
long -term adequate supplies of high - quality water.
7.3.2. The City shall develop an adequate funding base for
the management of environmental resources situated
CITY OF MOORPARK GENERAL PLAN
OSCAR UPDATE 2000 -2005 PAGE 68
within the City's Area of Interest (General Plan
Planning Area). Fees related to proposed
developments that result in the elimination of
native habitats shall be required to offset impacts
to these habitats by funding inventory programs for
important habitats, riparian areas, and open space
linkages situated within the City's Sphere.
7.3.3. The City shall consider adoption of an overall
riparian landscaping design and restoration program
for the Arroyo Simi within the City's General Plan
Planning Area. This program shall be oriented to
preserving, to the extent feasible and consistent
with the reasonable urbanization of the City, the
habitat values within and adjacent to this important
riparian corridor.
7.3.4. Riparian corridors and other wetland resources, as
well as essential habitats associated with rare and
endangered species, shall be given priority in
planning the required open space dedications for
major developments, including Specific Plans.
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