HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1994 0119 CC REG 08C AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF MOORPARK
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Jaime R. Aguilera, Director of Community Development4
Kathleen Mallory, Associate Planner t Y -\ ey
DATE: January 11, 1994 (CC meeting of January 19, 1994)
SUBJECT: CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FOUNTAIN ON THE CORNER
OF SPRING ROAD AND LOS ANGELES AVENUE (TOPA MANAGEMENT
COMPANY - DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NUMBER 1064)
BACKGROUND
On January 20, 1988 the City Council adopted Resolution Number 88-443 approving
Development Permit Number 1064 (Moorpark Gateway Plaza - Topa Management
Company). The construction plans which were approved in 1988 included the
construction of a fountain as an architectural feature on the southwest corner of Spring
Road and Los Angeles Avenue. The fountain has been in disrepair several times since
1989, when it was constructed.
The purpose of this staff report is to take a proactive approach in proposing an
alternative to the fountain should the fountain become inoperable in the future.
DISCUSSION
The fountain on the southwest corner of Spring Road and Los Angeles Avenue has been
broken numerous times. During the last occurrence, the fountain broke sometime in
August 1993 and was finally fixed, through a Code Enforcement action, in December
1993. Symbolizing the importance of corner design features, on two other corners at this
intersection, corresponding development projects were conditioned to install corner focal
points; McDonald's installed a 72 inch oak box tree and retained three mature tees and
Chevron designed around an existing prominent tree. The inoperable fountain resulted
in the Planning Commission expressing concern with the perpetuation of a corner feature
which may be unsatisfactory. During the time the fountain was inoperable, the
Commission suggested that a tree be used in place of the fountain in order to
compliment the other corners and because a tree would require less persistent
maintenance. In November, when the Management Company was attempting to fix the
fountain, staff spoke with the Topa Management Company who agreed that the fountain
had and continued to be a maintenance problem. They agreed that the fountain was a
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The Honorable City Council
January 13, 1994
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problem, and stated that they would have liked to explore the possibility of a installing a
tree in lieu of the fountain. However, by the time staff contacted the Management
Company they had ordered another fountain to replace the dilapidated fountain, and the
opportunity to replace the fountain was lost.
The Planning Commission advised staff of their interest in reviewing and recommending
to the City Council alternatives to the fountain, in a proactive approach should the
fountain break in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize City staff to initiate a fee exempt Minor Modification with the concurrence
of Topa Management Company to replace the fountain with a 72 inch box tree.
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