Condo swap put on hold
Conversions depend on new laws
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Owners of apartment buildings in Moorpark won't be permitted to sell off units to individual homebuyers until new laws are set.

The City Council last week voted to temporarily forbid the conversion of apartment buildings into private condominiums. The 45-day prohibition will give the city time to set ground rules for changeovers and protect lowincome families, officials said.

Although no one has requested this type of conversion yet, according to Moorpark Planning Director Dave Bobardt, city leaders anticipate the possibility and want to be proactive.

"We're developing a draft ordinance to regulate condominium conversions," Bobardt said.

An apartment owner who wants to convert a complex to condominium ownership will be required to meet specific standards with respect to parking, landscaping, amenities, architecture, sound transmission, energy efficiency and tenant relocation assistance.

Only after the moratorium is lifted and the standards are met can a permit be obtained to proceed with conversions, officials said.

Currently, most landlords in Moorpark have an agreement with the city to rent out a certain percentage of their units at an affordable rate.

The city needs to set rules before it allows conversions, said Councilmember Roseann Mikos, or it could lose muchneeded low-cost housing.

"We need to make sure we protect our affordable housing. We don't want to lose the progress we've made so far," said Councilmember Janice Parvin.