Remarks by Jonathan Chesley
138 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 6
- Play at 2:17:42
“There's a couple of quick questions for Rihanna. There was a lot of kind of going back to this question, I guess, of the actual interactions. There's a lot of conversation in the documents from the neighbors saying that you're very aware of some issues and that you're ignoring those issues. And I guess I'm curious, because it seems like there's a little bit of a question of trust that's happening. Um, and I'm just wondering, I think maybe to Brad's point as well, like, so do you feel like you're like you have, like, do you feel like, I mean, they can't really speak to it, but can you speak to…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:33:50
“Yeah, we either need some sort of occupant per square foot sort of information or based on the furniture or something to reference to be able to make an assumption. Because as Brad's saying, we can't just say loosely whatever life safety requirements are. We kind of have to see those because this is a condition.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:34:50
“Well, you can't do that in any space. There's always some sort of regulation. There's got to be a cap. The code dictates. Yeah, of course.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:03
“Related to the use and the square footage. But we need something to kind of base it on, I think.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:29
“More information. The lights, though, I think that that's also a part of this.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:39
“I guess they don't have covers right now.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:43
“But they do, and this is just keeping it in the.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:59
“It also says it's indicated on the site plan. Oh, it's the approved site plan.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:36:16
“And you're not recommending anything on the lights?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:38:25
“But I think removing any reference to a specific ABC license allows that in the future.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:40:54
“Yeah, I think what's hard, Brad, is like there's, it's, as we've kind of heard from the start, it's sort of like intrinsically ambiguous because we could also say, whatever, Ojai Pub, these other, that are commercial with residential right behind them, which can have liquor, that's based on the zoning and everything. Here, this mixed use, which has a residential use, seems to have a sensitivity to it, and I think that's why we're talking about it, I don't still necessarily know. You know, if I was just looking at this, I would say, well, yeah, I would say we should just say if you're going to…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:41:55
“I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, Lucas, though, like in a way this is less on the seams because the VMU is supposed to be a transition to another space as opposed to along East Ojai where it's actually a seam.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:43:59
“I mean, that does seem, especially hearing that maybe the idea of events is more of a- Would you speak into the microphone? Sorry. Especially since hearing that potentially the idea of an event is maybe more of a misconception than a reality of what's happening. It seems like it allows them to do something unique and special here and there while operating. So that's probably a pretty fair one. It also relates to the neighbor's needs and wants.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:46:04
“I think there's a nice idea about some sort of visibility on events You know, that's gonna be a nice thing for the neighbors also to know, you know that something's happening So I think visibility accountability. I think all those pieces come into play Yeah, because in the end, I mean even the mixed-use, you know pretty clearly says it's to promote community interaction. So I think that it's aligned with the C1 and the surrounding uses. Just to wait for it to be done, I guess, respectfully as possible sounds smart.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:47:25
“I guess the only thing is if it's like for a local nonprofit that wants to do some little thing. We haven't gotten to the hours of operation yet. So at this point, it can only be those days anyways. I guess we have to go there first. Maybe that's the more important one.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:55:07
“I guess something that Brad said was, you know, And, I mean, something that was said by it was, along with it, I guess, is Brad said businesses change, you know. So, you know, what are the positives and negatives about providing the seven to 10? You know, obviously it provides more flexibility for something that is also maybe like, sounds like a store for the neighborhood. You know, there's other things where waiting until four in the afternoon is like, why would you ever go there to do that thing? So in fact, these hours push it more into a, as the liquor license more towards a bar. So we…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:59:31
“No, no, for sure. I know, but no, and I think we want to take care of the neighbors too, absolutely. But so we just have to come up with a way of understanding what.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:03:16
“Yeah, he was worried about noise. Noise. When someone's sitting having a coffee, it was quiet. Someone sitting having a glass of wine, he would argue it was loud.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:14:53
“Well, that's what it is. Amplified music is live music.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:15:20
“Yes to what it currently is, basically. It sounds like she's allowed one speaker. She can't amplify music, which is defined more as an instrument that's plugged into an amplifier and performed.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:16:44
“I guess it's a question, you know, sometimes you have to have things cleared before you can, you know, bring things to a body. Maybe that's kind of what you're saying. It's like the slate should sort of be clean before you're having a discussion at this level. Is that kind of what you're thinking a bit, Brad?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:19:26
“learn about and figure out what we need to do to comply and there's always communication with the either with the tenant okay so what's the I mean I'm assuming I could be wrong the table is no longer in the location that it was maybe it is still there the table's been removed been removed clearly the car is not parked in the ADA spot any longer so what is the event is over the police were there and had to move So the violations, what does it mean for these three violations to exist? It sounds like they've been rectified or what's the?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:23:58
“Cute trailer gone. So I guess I'm still not totally clear, but the point is that with these three things, you would then bring these forward to us and say, this has been happening, even though they've been rectified or whatever, but this has been happening, so we're going to reassess the CUP, right?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:25:26
“Do you think you can be the most articulate on this one?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:25:33
“Okay. Oh, well, I guess, okay, we'll see. I mean, I think what we're saying is that We are proposing to continue, can I say that part first? To continue this application to a date unknown while approving, or while, oh, it's not approving, actually. While, I guess, updating the current COA number two, to allow the applicant to apply to remove the reference to a specific ABC license.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026