Casa Conejo residents confront Gorell on Borchard property

New supervisor: 'I have no intention of changing the property'



INTRODUCTION—Supervisor Jeff Gorell speaks to the Casa Conejo Municipal Advisory Council during a Jan. 31 meeting inside the Newbury Park High School Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo

INTRODUCTION—Supervisor Jeff Gorell speaks to the Casa Conejo Municipal Advisory Council during a Jan. 31 meeting inside the Newbury Park High School Performing Arts Center. Courtesy photo

New Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell addressed Casa Conejo residents on Tuesday for the first time since taking office, telling homeowners in the unincorporated Newbury Park area that talk of him undoing the flood easement over the hotly debated Borchard parcel was “manufactured controversy.”

“I support the position of the (county) public works director, and I have no intention of changing the property,” he said during the Jan. 31 meeting of the Casa Conejo Municipal Advisory Council at Newbury Park High School.

Shawn Moradian, whose family owns the Borchard parcel, was a major supporter of Gorell during his campaign. This has concerned residents who oppose development of the 37-acre property next to the 101 Freeway.

The new supervisor said that fear was misplaced.

“The Borchard property is foremost on my mind. It is a property of significance, with a noteworthy presence in the election and today,” he said.

“Unless the public works director changes his position, it’s mine, too,” he said.

FOCAL POINT—A look across the property known as the Borchard parcel, which is known colloquially as the Borchard wetlands. The 37-acre spot is the largest piece of flat, undeveloped land in the city. The Thousand Oaks City Council majority voted in 2021 to see it designated for mixed use (apartments with commercial); it is currently zoned for single-family residential, but it can’t be developed while the county holds a flood easement over it. Acorn file photo

FOCAL POINT—A look across the property known as the Borchard parcel, which is known colloquially as the Borchard wetlands. The 37-acre spot is the largest piece of flat, undeveloped land in the city. The Thousand Oaks City Council majority voted in 2021 to see it designated for mixed use (apartments with commercial); it is currently zoned for single-family residential, but it can’t be developed while the county holds a flood easement over it. Acorn file photo

Gorell said the land, which backs up to Casa Conejo, is in the jurisdiction of the City of Thousand Oaks.

“It is not a county property. It is a city property. The county is involved because there is an easement there,” he said.

The supervisor, who spent the previous six years working for the City of Los Angeles as a deputy mayor, said he had been briefed by the county’s public works staff before the MAC meeting on the purpose of the easement and that he did not have a position on its fate.

“We came to this property, and they mentioned the importance as a water-retention basin,” he said. “It controls the flow of water and possesses an important role because of the water control.”

Some in attendance remained skeptical.

Karen Wilburn is the outspoken leader of a group that is opposed to the city’s plans to redesignate the land, currently zoned single-family residential, to allow the development of apartments and commercial. She backed Gorell’s opponent in the supervisor’s race, former T.O. Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña.

“It’s not a lost cause. We need to continue to fight,” Wilburn said during public comment.

Casa Conejo resident Jenny Hess addressed Gorell directly.

“You said you take no position. I hope you will reconsider that you don’t have a position. Our previous supervisor (Linda Parks) had a position. There is nothing manufactured or political about it. It’s about the wetlands, water and about development,” she said.

Another resident pointed out that Moradian still has a sign on the property supporting Gorell for supervisor.

“If anything is manufactured it’s by the owner. I question your relationship with Mr. Moradian. I’m a Republican and I didn’t vote for you,” Lorrie Dingman told Gorell. “I’m asking you to represent all of us. You said you will follow the recommendations of the public works director. That is Moradian’s next attack.”

Attempts to reach Moradian before deadline were unsuccessful. He was not in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.

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This story was updated at 3:13 p.m. Feb. 2, 2023.