City eyes Soule Park
by C.A. Gilman

With Mayor Steve Olsen casting the sole "no" vote at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, the council again approved the Los Arboles project.
The Planning Commission had unanimously approved the project on Nov. 5.
The 23-unit mixed-use Los Arboles condominiums are located on 3.13. acres on the east and west sides of South Montgomery Street, at 203 to 307 S. Montgomery Street , approximately 500 feet south of Ojai Avenue.
The Citizens to Preserve the Ojai, and the Environmental Coalition of Ventura County, have long opposed the development, and have filed three lawsuits to prevent its construction. They maintain the project will increase traffic, decrease air quality, add luxury homes, and interfere with the village quality of life in downtown Ojai.
In its most recent suit, Judge Melinda Johnson issued a ruling on Oct. 8 that was in favor of the project in most respects except for three: a variance allowing a 25-foot setback between buildings; increased traffic levels that were inconsistent with the General Plan; and lack of evidence to support the conclusion that less dense alternatives would not return a fair profit to the owners. Construction on Los Arboles stopped with that decision.
However, since the filing of the suit, the city zoning has changed to allow for a 25-foot setback rather than the previous 45 feet. The developer, Lance Smigel, also agreed to additional traffic mitigation such as vans and trolley stops.
Independent traffic, economic and environmental consultants submitted reports substantiating data that showed that, in fact, the project would decrease traffic, and that its owners could not realize their profit with fewer units.
However, despite the council's approval Tuesday night, city attorneys, independent consultants, judge's decisions, changes in design plans, EIRs, traffic studies, suits, countersuits, and appeals, the opponents to the project persist. Ivor Benci-Woodward, CPO president, said, "I'm sure that the project will be challenged again. Just changing the numbers around doesn't change anything. We will ask the judge to enforce her decisions."
Councilmember Rae Hanstad said, "I want to clarify that Los Arboles isn't the city's project, it is the developer's project. I support this project because it brings village-mixed use and people living near and using our town center. And it's a beautiful project. The quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our environment which is dependent on the quality of our land use."
City Attorney Monte Widders clarified that the developer is responsible for city legal fees for the, not the taxpayers.
Many of the packed audience waited patiently until 10:30 p.m. to discuss the potential transfer of Soule Park from the county to the city. The transfer is part of a trend in Ventura County to transfer its parks to the cities where they are located in order to save money.
Soule Park is a 55-acre public day-use park currently owned and operated by the county. Zaidee Soule deeded the land to the county in 1957 with the restriction that it be maintained for recreational use. Subsequently the county turned a majority of the land into a public golf course with the remaining southeast corner, accessed off of Boardman Road, established as a park and public equestrian center. The park is currently home to a number of group picnic facilities, two tennis courts, an improved softball field, equestrian center, and maintenance and storage yard. Restrooms, play equipment, and individual picnic facilities are scattered throughout the park.
In addition to the 55-acre park, the county is also offering a 166-acre parcel of oak wooded hillsides representing an unobstructed view shed just below Black Mountain.
City Manager Dan Singer highlighted pros and cons of the project. Pros included additional recreational space, more control of a key park, and other land or funds that the county would assist Ojai with during the transfer. These included underground utility lines from Montgomery St east and reconstruction of San Antonio Creek bridge.
Cons included cost to operate, improve and maintain; and other priority projects that required the city's funds.
Many of the neighbors were concerned about what would happen to the valley's only equestrian center that is within the park. Larry Hartmann maintained that it was the county's responsibility for upkeep and maintenance - not the city's to assume the cost. Pat Hartmann said it would add 7,000 additional car trips a day. Jim Ruch wanted to know where the money would come from. He said, "Ventura County has chosen to use Soule Park income for purposes other than Soule Park maintenance and management, resulting in shortfall to both. We strongly recommend you do nothing unless you take care of the bike trail and the bridge Let's take the time to do this job right."
Mayor Steve Olsen said, "The intent is to provide appropriate recreational facilities for the city; I don't trust the county. Look at Dennison Park; look at the Wendy's. If anything I think the city would improve the equestrian center in Soule park. We need to discuss the cost, the usage, time restraints and to involve all the recreational entities."
Ojai's recreational budget is $750,000 a year.
Council member Sue Horgan said, "I think we should investigate a recreational district, a park master plan, a capital improvement plan, uses, and what we want to provide before moving forward. The city can't afford this. It's a white elephant the county is trying to dump on us."
Hanstad agreed, "There is also a declining school age population. We need to
take care of what we have now. We can't even maintain the skateboard park; we need to build the park at the Y."
Although Hanstad and Horgan were against continuing negotiations, Bury, Olsen, and DeVito were in favor. The council's decision was for further discussions and public workshops.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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