Motorists who use the rural portion of Moorpark Road between Moorpark and Thousand Oaks may have noticed large earthmovers grading an area near Sunset Valley and Read roads in the Tierra Rejada Valley.

Bordier's Nursery, Inc. is in charge of the project, according to Jarrod DeGonia, administrative assistant for Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels. He stressed that no residential development is planned in that area and the grading is for agricultural use only.

"It's a great project for the Tierra Rejada Valley because it contributes to Ventura County's strong agricultural economy while preserving open space and fields," DeGonia said.

Bordier's is a family owned company that's been in the nursery business since 1922, said Bill Russell, its vice president of operations.

Originally established as a retail/wholesale company in Rosemead, the nursery moved to Glendora in 1950, where it became strictly a wholesale grower. The business moved to Irvine in 1964 and expanded to 240 acres. The company presently operates a 200-acre facility in Somis as well as large facilities in Irvine and Escondido.

Bordier's purchased the Tierra Rejada property-about 370 acres-in September 2001 and began plans for nursery development. About 270 acres are to be developed as a wholesale nursery growing facility.

Having worked closely with multiple agencies in a nearly four-year process, Bordier's is now preparing the land for nursery production, Russell said.

The company is also doing some drainage work in association with the Watershed Protection District, said County Planning Director Chris Stevens.

"Proper grading of the site is critical to drainage and operation of the irrigation water recycle process," Russell said.

The Tierra Rejada facility, like those in Irvine and Somis, will collect and recycle all irrigation water. This requires the facility to be graded in such a fashion that all of Bordier's water is controlled within the facility, and water from surrounding properties is not allowed to comingle with on-site water.

According to Russell, Bordier's has been a good steward of the land for 84 years, having committed no environmental infractions during that period.

The nursery will not be open to the public since all plant material is delivered directly to retail outlets throughout the country. The local project will be completed in about three years.

The company has a large, extensively trained work force and provides year-round employment with very low employee turnover. "This aids in stability of the work force, better operational planning, and benefits to the local economy," Russell said.

Bordier's grows more than 1,800 varieties of plants, including ornamental shrubbery, perennial color, garden roses and Christmas products including poinsettias, rosemary and container-grown Christmas trees.

Some greenhouses will be built, but viewsheds will be preserved, Russell said. "We are very cognizant of the folks who live around us.

"The irony of that is you have to jump through hoops to get greenhouses as opposed to the 'high tunnel' plastic hoop houses that enhance the energy and hold the heat without completely sealing up the growing area," he said.

Bordier's is grading two hills to level the land. Once that's completed, the company will start to put in plants. "We've planned the project for a long time, trying to maximize the use of the land and preserve the agricultural area," Russell said.