Could this be the plan that revitalizes downtown Moorpark?
A farm-to-table food market, restaurant and microbrewery project, which many believe could be the answer to helping revitalize Moorpark's downtown area, got approval from the city Planning Commission this week.
The commission unanimously supported the development and conditional-use permit application submitted by Apricot Lane Farms, a certified organic and biodynamic farm in Moorpark. The plans call for a new 16,734-square-foot, two-story market on about 1.23 acres at 44 High Street.
The commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council for final approval.
“The reason I got on the Planning Commission 18 years ago is to do something with High Street. I think we’re all in agreement that this is something we really want to see here,” commission Chairman Mark Di Cecco said about the project.
Sean Rasmussen, a representative of Wade Weissman Architecture, submitted the application to the city for the project in June.
The project, which would be on the south side of High Street east of Moorpark Avenue and west of Bard Street, would include a two-story food market and restaurant with a banquet room and a microbrewery occupied by Enegren Brewing Co.
The proposed location, currently occupied by Maria’s Family Restaurant and an old grain facility with a train station façade, is a former redevelopment property currently owned by the city’s successor agency.
The project, with “traditional industrial” building design, would give the appearance of two buildings and would be connected by a 1,491-square-foot roof metal porch with outdoor dining.
While some trees would be removed, 49 new trees are proposed and two large existing ash trees would be incorporated into the project.
Planning Commission Vice Chairman Kipp Landis also gave the project his approval.
“I’ve been a planning commissioner for a few terms, and I do not think I’ve seen a demonstrative like that which captures what we want on High Street. That is unbelievable,” Landis said after seeing the project plans.
Plans to revitalize High Street have been going on for decades, but city planners hope this project will spur things along.
Ken Simons, director of Simons Real Estate Group Inc. and a City Council candidate, is the broker for the project and has been working with Apricot Lane Farms for a year to help them acquire the property from the city.
“The project would be a fantastic anchor for the High Street rebirth. This type of tenant will help feature High Street as a unique retail destination that will draw regionally,” Simons said.
Apricot Lane Farms owner John Chester said about the project: “This place is a dream come true.”
He said the restaurant and market would sell unrefined, whole-food products and “really great tasting food like grandmum used to make.”
“I think it’s about time that something is done on High Street. I love the idea,” said Joan Martinez, owner of the Cactus Patch Restaurant on High Street for more than 40 years.
Martinez said she would like the city to keep the charm of High Street when considering this and other new projects.
“We are wildly enthusiastic about this project,” said Hugh Riley, retired assistant city manager and current executive director of the Moorpark Foundation for the Arts, which supports the High Street Arts Center across the street from the project site.
Riley said he worked for many years with the city trying to get a number of things on High Street “with a lot of frustration” and that the project is “one of the big answers to make High Street move along.”
Riley said parking issues need to be addressed.
Planning Director David Bobardt said nearby parking will augment the 58 spaces on site and that the city staff is working on more paved parking next to the nearby Metrolink train station.