By Michele Willer-Allred
The Ventura County Star
MOORPARK, Calif. — Construction is expected to begin in the next two years on a fire station in northern Moorpark near Moorpark College.
On Wednesday, the Moorpark City Council voted 4-0, with Councilman Keith Millhouse absent, to have Mayor Janice Parvin write to the Ventura County Fire Protection District proposing the new station on about 1 acre in the Campus Park area.
The site is at the northeast corner of College View Park, which is at Campus Park Drive and College View Avenue next to Highway 118.
The city has two fire stations, on Cedar Springs Street in the Mountain Meadows area and on High Street downtown.
Fire officials said adding a station would improve response times to outlying areas such as Campus Park and reduce the burden on other cities to help Moorpark during emergencies.
Assistant City Manager Hugh Riley said the city has been working for a long time on finding a location for a fire station in the Campus Park area, especially because city population has grown.
Riley said there was a delay with the fire station project because of the North Park development proposed in the north end of the city, which could have made an alternative site available. Voters turned down North Park in 2006.
The city will lease the land to the fire district for $1 a year.
With a location proposed, the district will start architectural plans and develop a concept for the station, said district Division Chief Keith Gurrola Even though the district has had budget cuts, it still plans to go forward with projects such as future fire stations and acquisition of apparatus, Gurrola said.
The fire station in that area is overdue, not only for residents but also for the college, Parvin said.
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