ROAD PLAN APPROVED; EXTENSION THROUGH BUSINESS ZONE PLEASES RESIDENTS.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Daily News Staff Writer

Residents in a pocket community off Moorpark Road south of the Ventura Freeway could have a second access road by next summer - and it's one that county neighbors to the east say won't sacrifice their community.

The City Council unanimously picked a plan Tuesday that would connect the road through commercial property instead of cutting a route through the equestrian community of Rolling Oaks Estates, as one road alternative proposed.

``I think it's great both sides of Rolling Oaks agreeing to this,'' Mayor Linda Parks said.

The road, chosen from six alternatives, will connect the west portion of Rolling Oaks Drive to Rancho Road.

Businessman Robert Haaland came up with the idea to have part of the road cut through his property. He said the proposal was possible with the city's purchase of the former Calvary Church property, where part of the route will cross.

The city recently spent $2.5 million of state and federal funds and community development block grants for the church property, where a 4.5-acre transportation facility is planned, said city Public Works Director Don Nelson.

Nelson said a design concept of the proposed road connection should be completed and brought back to the council for review by this summer.

``We are looking toward next summer for construction,'' Nelson said. ``It'll take three to four months.''

Although talks about providing a secondary route for the group of homes in the community near the Los Robles Golf Course have been ongoing for some say as long as 20 years, plans to improve the Moorpark Road interchange finally spurred residents to take action so they won't be left with just one route in and out of their community during major construction.

Nelson said the planned improvements to the interchange won't start until after the Rolling Oaks Road connection is completed.

Second District county Supervisor Frank Schillo was one of 15 proponents who spoke for Haaland's plan.

``Homeowners find this as the most acceptable alternative,'' Schillo said. ``It's the least expensive and it minimizes environmental impacts.''

Shirley Morris, who lived on the west side of Rolling Oaks Drive, also spoke in favor of Haaland's proposal, bringing a petition of 500 names as a further sign of support.

Haaland said the road that falls into his property would remain a private driveway, which he would maintain.

Resident Joy Meade was the only resident to speak against the proposal, questioning whether the plan allows Haaland to do more development.

Haaland said he now has two office buildings on site at the Rolling Oaks Office Center and would have to rearrange development plans to accommodate the road. He would change three approved buildings into four smaller buildings, increasing total square footage from 130,000 to 157,000. He said he also would eliminate a two-story parking garage and put the parking underground.

Christopher Lynch of Moffatt & Nichol Engineers, which studied the alternatives, said an anticipated 2,000 cars a day would travel on the road extension. He also said the proposed alternative has a 10 percent grade, but downplayed concern over the grade saying it was at 10 percent ``for a very short amount of time.''

The council, in approving Haaland's proposal, stipulated that a proposed traffic circle should be better placed. They also suggested that the grade should be reduced, if possible.

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MAP: Rolling Oaks Drive extension road