Inn expansion clears Planning
by C.A. Gilman

Employees of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, their supporters, and detractors overflowed City Chambers at Monday night's special meeting of the Planning Commission for the inn's expansion plans.
After presentations, speeches, and comments from the inn's general management, architects, planners, and staff, Ojai resident, and city staff and consultants, the Planning Commission unanimously approved adopting the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the inn's traffic mitigation program, the architectural review, parcel map, zone change, tree permits, development agreement, and conditions of approval.
Contract Planner Laura Bridley presented the recommendations to the commission. "The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is proposing renovations and additions to its existing campus, including a 6,700-square-foot increase in conference facility space, a net increase of 95 guest rooms, relocation of certain restaurant space, addition of 172 parking spaces and construction of a new 20,540-square-foot central services facility."
Thad Hyland, the inn's managing director, supplied a PowerPoint presentation of future construction, and the need to expand to remain competitive with other Central Coast resorts. He cited competition from other high-end resort spas such as the Bacara, Miramar, and Santa Barbara Biltmore which either have expanded or restored their facilities to meet market demands. Hyland noted the need for high speed Internet access, lighting and signage, increased ADA access, expanded conference and dining areas, enhanced pool and recreational facilities, improved employee centers, and environmental mitigation monitoring.
Hyland said, "The Inn was built in 1923 to attract visitors to the beauty of Ojai - about 60,000 a year. We have over 35 percent return rate; and many return to live here. We hope to be here another 79 years.
"We have lost a number of events to the Bacara resort because we couldn't compete. That means jobs, and taxes. We have 653 employees currently and that represents 2,000 lives - that's children and spouses. 66 percent of 653 employees live in Ojai Valley; our average wage is $14 (per hour). We have attractive benefit and retirement programs and intend to add 50 new jobs and a lot of career opportunities when the project is complete.
"We are building an on-site co-generation plant which is a $700,000 project which will produce half of our energy needs based on natural gas and will be 66 percent cleaner than the current Ventura County standards. All the parking lots will have built-in bioswales which will capture the leakage from vehicles to keep them from getting into our storm drains."
Hyland added that all new buildings would be compliant with Title 24 energy usage.
After discovering two wetlands on their design plans, they are moving the parking lot areas away from the wetlands.
The inn will be adding 240 new trees - live oaks and sycamores, and taking out many of the non-native eucalyptus. They will continue with their organic plantings and expand the four acres of lavender they have already planted. They are also switching over to 65 per cent organic fertilizers on their golf course.
"This project will provide additional tax base for the city, and enable us to continue our charitable and cultural contributions. Our guests also enhance the town through shopping, dining, and attending cultural events in town. The inn and the town go hand in hand. Every community is like an eco-system, the inn is part of that eco-system."
Bill Mayhen, the project architect, has been architect for the inn since 94. Mayhen's intention is to emulate the architecture on the old clubhouse which was designed by renowned architect Walter Neff. The post-modern designs will be replaced by Spanish-revival architecture.
The Central Services building that will be accessible via Hermosa Road off Highway 150/33. This will eliminate the truck traffic down Ojai Ave to Country Club Road, Hyland said. Central Services will house human resources, administration, classrooms, operations, and employee facilities.
Commissioner Craig Smith asked, "How do the current traffic measurement measures impact the environment?"
Andy Belknap, project consultant working with the Inn, said, "The real reason you can reduce traffic is local work. A strong majority of the employees that work at the Inn will live in Ojai."
Inn employees and spouses Brooke Miles, Alicia Collin, Rose Manoi, Brian Scaggs, Neffertiti Walden, spoke of the opportunities the inn has provided them - in education, career advancement and working close to home so they could also be with their families.
Residents Joan Kemper, Carl Huntsinger, Alan Rains, Zubin Levy, Barbara Bowman, and Ojai Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Scott Eicher acknowledged the many contributions the inn has made to the city. Kemper said, "Without the Inn's help many of the non-profit and cultural events in town wouldn't go through. The inn was extremely helpful with their gifts with the Pergola, trees in Libbey Park, the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, the Besant Meadow and Palmer property and the hospital."
Huntsinger said, "The inn does not give press releases or look for recognition. They and their parent were instrumental in (defeating) Weldon Canyon (site of proposed landfill project)"
Rains said, ""In addition to being a large employer, the inn is an industry that we want in Ojai - a clean industry. Their TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) is the largest source of income for the city. That tax will increase by almost $900,000. The OVI's success is very important to the success of the Ojai Valley."
Ivor Benci-Woodward, president of the Citizens to Preserve the Ojai, said to the Commission, "I have supported the inn's expansion and saw this as an opportunity. I don't believe you have done your best to see it that way. You have chosen the lazy way out. In order to for you to keep your responsibility you will have to override the traffic impact of this project."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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