OFFICIALS, DEVELOPER CLASH OVER HOUSING PLANS.

Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer

Simi Valley and Moorpark city officials are at odds over a 1,650-unit housing development that could add more traffic to the already congested Ronald Reagan Freeway.

The Simi Valley City Council sent a letter last week expressing concerns about the potential traffic impacts from the North Park Village and Nature Preserve, a development proposed north of Moorpark College.

``The cities of Moorpark and Simi Valley are both adversely affected by the State budget reductions that have delayed widening projects for the 118 and 23 Freeways,'' Mayor Paul Miller wrote on behalf of the City Council. ``What is most troubling to us, however, is the fact that the North Park project's traffic impacts will be so great that congestion will continue to be a problem within Simi Valley after the 118 Freeway is widened.

``As long as this issue remains unresolved, however, we must respectfully voice our opposition to the project.''

Upon build-out, the project will generate nearly 23,000 daily car trips. Specifically, the project is projected to add between 700 and 1,100 peak hour trips to the Ronald Reagan Freeway.

The project includes a 2,121-acre nature preserve, a 52-acre public access lake, new school and fire station on 3,586 acres of land.

The project could take up to 15 years to complete.

Moorpark officials have taken issue with Simi Valley's stance.

``It's puzzling, to put it mildly,'' said Moorpark Councilwoman Roseann Mikos. ``It didn't seem to bother them when it's their traffic.

``They obviously don't want the traffic from this project to affect their city.''

Mikos and others blasted their neighbors to the east who, over the years, have approved an 800,000-square-foot regional mall; the Big Sky housing project, featuring 729 single-family homes; and several other large commercial centers in town.

Simi Valley city officials responded by saying those projects were approved under the assumption that the state of California would be widening the 118 and 23 freeways. Such transportation improvements were put on hold because of budget woes.

The objective of the letter, Simi leaders said, was to shed light on the concern and not to interfere with Moorpark's business.

The North Park housing project is nearing the public hearing process. Should the Moorpark City Council approve the project, it needs approval by a simple majority of local voters.

``The letter was a good neighbor policy type of thing not meant to offend or hurt anybody's feelings,'' said Simi Valley Councilwoman Barbra Williamson. ``Our concerns mirror their concerns.''

Angie Valencia-Martinez, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com