City to host eminent domain workshops
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

The Moorpark Redevelopment Agency will host public workshops early next month to discuss the city's plans concerning a controversial eminent domain amendment.

The meetings will be at 7 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 6 and Tues., Sept. 11 at city hall.

The redevelopment agency, composed of the five Moorpark City Council members, began working in 1989 to revitalize downtown. A voter-approved amendment that year allowed the agency to use the power of eminent domain to acquire commercial or industrial properties- but not private homes- for redevelopment purposes.

The entitlement expired in July 2001 and the agency has been working to renew its authority to acquire property. Controversy has erupted over the option officials have considered that would expand the agency's power to acquire private homes.

A Project Area Committee representing the interests of downtown residents was elected in 2005 to give advice on the process.

The citizens group recommended the agency not include residential properties in the amendment out of concern that eminent domain would be abused for the benefit of developers.

The committee meetings attracted animated crowds to City Council chambers several times last year. Downtown residents were concerned about the possibility of losing their homes.

"The whole town didn't like the idea that the government could take somebody's home," said Dale Parvin, whose wife, Councilmember Janice Parvin, opposes the inclusion of residential properties in the eminent domain amendment.

"Occasionally and only for safety purposes should owneroccupied property be acquired to develop roads, bike paths and other public pathways," Parvin said.

After much debate, city staff has decided to support the committee's recommendations to reinstate the terms of the 1989 amendment and thus prohibit the agency from acquiring private homes.

"We're going to show what we plan to implement and enable residents to ask questions. This is not a formal meeting," said David Moe, redevelopment agency manager.

To date the agency has purchased six homes and one commercial property within the redevelopment area from willing sellers. The agency has never used eminent domain and it doesn't intend to do so in the future, Moe said.

But in case the power is needed, and only as a last resort for public safety purposes or downtown Moorpark improvements, officials want to keep options on the table, Moe said.

The City Council and the redevelopment agency will make a final decision on the amendment at a joint meeting on Sept 19.

Once reinstated, the authority to use eminent domain will be in effect for 12 years.