Hoping for less stress this year
The city of Moorpark faced a number of challenges last year. Voters defeated the North Park development, fatal accidents still occur on the treacherous Hitch Road outside of town, and the Shekell fire and resulting blaze at MGR Designs International left a lingering pall of smoke.

The defeat of North Park disappointed many Moorpark residents who saw the development as an opportunity to improve the community. The Moorpark Acorn favored the new homes and businesses, and wasn't alone in its opinion. The Ventura County Star, Moorpark Chamber of Commerce and a variety of area activists and business people gave the project a thumbs up. But the opposition prevailed at the ballot box.

Now there is no plan for development of the 3,544-acre site. There will be no new recreational lake, fire station, school or sports park. Burnt prairie grass covers the hundreds of acres of open space inhabited only by wildlife. Is everybody who voted "no" on new neighbors happy with the results? Certainly the squirrels and bunnies are.

On a different front, death still haunts the intersection of Hitch Road and Highway 118 on Moorpark's west side. Trucks and cars swerve to negotiate the curving road, driving into danger. What have area officials done to "fix" the problem? Instead of installing a traffic light at Hitch Road, where it's needed, they placed one 50 yards west at the intersection of Grimes Canyon Road. Area residents continue to be baffled by the decision.

In investigating the Shekell fire, the district attorney's office is looking into the problems with the lack of permits at MGR Designs International, which operated a business at the site of the old Egg City. When the Shekell blaze reached the MGR plant, the highly flammable material used there ignited immediately. There went the neighborhood.

While officials continue to look at MGR's attention to safety, there are many homes, businesses and cars in downtown Moorpark that continue to smell like an ashtray, thanks to the blaze. On the positive side, the quick response by firefighters helped contain and minimize property damage.

We're hoping that 2007 proves to be a smoother, safer, more productive year for Moorpark.