Council deals with setbacks
By Jesse Phelps

The Ojai City Council labored for about five-and-a-half hours last Tuesday evening, including more than an hour of closed session legal issues and an agenda packed full of various item.
They also took time to conduct a workshop on a revised zoning ordinance.

City Manager Dan Singer said that city staff has been working on the ordinance for the past five years to bring it into compliance with the general plan.

Community Development Director Robert Casias said that a draft was brought before both planning and the council for review and that the first public workshop occurred in November 2001. Staff incorporated direction from all concerned and released the latest version in March.
After a May review by planning and the incorporation of input and provisions complying with the new second dwelling unit ordinance, penned by City Attorney Monte Widders, a new draft was completed for Tuesday's workshop.

In addition to aligning it with the granny-flat ordinance, other major changes in the document concerned limiting bed-and-breakfast establishments in single- or multi-family residential zones and the elimination of the Business Professional Commercial (B-P) zone.
Another big change, and a focal point of conversation for several council members, is a provision allowing 10-foot setbacks in the village mixed use zone, where 25 feet previously embodied the minimum allowable distance between buildings on a lot.

In fact, Casias said, the setback requirement was once 45 feet, in the days before the Los Arboles development on Montgomery Street.
Mayor Pro-Tempore Sue Horgan said she thinks that, aesthetically, things are becoming too compact. "I have a problem with reducing (the setbacks) too much," she said.

She found support from her fellows. Said councilwoman Rae Hanstad, "The 45-25-10 thing bothers me. I am loath to move - I know 45 feet may have been mythical in the first place - but 10 seeems too close."
Both Casias and planning staffer Katrina Rice-Schmidt attempted to allay the fears of the councilwomen. Casias pointed out that, in most city zones, 10-foot setbacks are the norm.

Schmidt said that the 25-foot requirement essentially forces attached additions. With a lessening of the setbacks, she said, "it allows the buildings to be broken up - it's a scale issue. Otherwise the only option people have is to build one large building by adding to the original structure."

Councilman David Bury backed the idea of changing the setbacks. He said with the level of density where it is, it would be difficult to build on most every lot in town, should the requirements remain as they are.

Ultimately, in deference to reservations expressed by Horgan, Hanstad and councilwoman Carol Smith, Singer said his department will work up two new versions of the ordinance for review at the December council meeting, at which time everyone can decide how they want the setback requirements to read.

At that meeting, Mayor Joe DeVito will hand over the ceremonial reigns of the city government for the fourth time. Horgan is expected to take the mayor's seat for her first term.

On Tuesday, DeVito lauded the work done by staff on the ordinance. He commended Singer and his crew for the readability of the ordinance. Addressing the city manager, he said, "I hope, with as long as you have spent on this thing, that we don't have a whole group of people come out of the woodwork and try to tweak it."

While that wish may not be granted, no member of the public offered comment at the Tuesday workshop.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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