By Acorn Staff | on July 16, 2022

IN THE WORKS—The red indicates the 7.5 acres where Beltramo Ranch, a 47-unit development, is slated for construction. Below, the property is mostly empty lots.

On the heels of the recently passed Hitch Ranch, another housing development, Beltramo Ranch, will go before the City Council on July 20.

The Moorpark planning commission met June 28 to open a public hearing, and approved a zone change for the project’s high-density housing, as well as the next steps to bring the residential community to the City Council.

The 47-unit development would sit between the Heather Glen and Maureen Lane neighborhoods and would be within walking distance of shops along Los Angeles Avenue. The single family homes would be built on 7.5 acres.

Negotiations for the development agreement were led by Councilmembers Chris Enegren and Daniel Groff with the help of City Manager Troy Brown. In 2019, Costa Mesa-based developer Warmington Residential submitted a pre-screening application in order to build on the land. The development agreement went through several rounds of modifications.

The proposed neighborhood was originally slated as a much bigger community, but due to neighborhood concerns, the developer cut the number of homes in half from 102 to 47 units.

Fountain Foursquare Church, as well as two single-family homes and a few outbuildings, currently sit on the project site. All the buildings are slated to be demolished as part of the project.

“The property has been marketed for sale for several years and it is our understanding that all of the current property owners and occupants were planning to relocate with the sale of the property, whether with this development or some other developer,” said Carlene Saxton, the city’s community development director.

The housing development will not include affordable housing units, but Warmington Residential plans to pay the city an in-lieu fee of approximately $1 million to go toward the city’s affordable housing fund.

The proposed 47 units would be sold at market rate and would not have a set income or affordability restriction for future owners; therefore, anyone of any income level could purchase the units, Saxton said.

“We know we’re not going to please everyone with everything that we’re doing, but we’re trying to find a happy medium that everyone can get on board with,” said Joe Oftelie, the vice president of Warmington Residential’s Southern California division.

All the homes will be two-stories. The houses will be American farmhouse or ranch style. All houses will have a fenced backyard and a two-car garage.

There are two parks on the proposed project site: a bigger area of open turf with a barbecue and a smaller park with seating. The homes are either three- or four-bedrooms and range in size from about 2,000 to 2,500 square feet.

All of the houses will have solar panels installed on the roof, but as of now, Warmington Residential does not plan on providing a back-up battery system.

As far as traffic, there would be an entrance east and westbound from Los Angeles Avenue. To exit out of the neighborhood, there is a right-turn only onto E. Los Angeles Avenue.

If the project is approved, power lines starting on Los Angeles Avenue would have to be removed and relocated underground.

All trees would have to be cut down within the project site, which could impact the bird-nesting season.

A biologist will be brought to the site to conduct a survey to be submitted to the city three days prior to demolition or cutting down trees. If nesting birds are found in the project site, a clearly marked buffer will be put in place until the nest is no longer active.

No reclaimed water lines are in place nearby that can extend to the site, but there will be a drip irrigation system for drought-tolerant plants.

Our Hometown DMCA Notices Newspaper web site content management software and services