Remarks by Katrina Rice-Schmidt
163 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 7
- Play at 2:22:35
“Is there a site plan or something? Do you have a configuration of what your idealized outdoor patio would look like?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:24:32
“Can you talk about the special events that you've had? The neighbors talked about wondering if there was gonna be a big event that night. How many, you're allowed to have one a month. So what is that looking like for you? What is actually happening?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:26:11
“Think some of the neighbors or community members may see that as an event a Quick question for staff, so I have a big family At least 35 people in my family so if I wanted to have a family dinner and I called and say can you accommodate 35 people and The restaurant's not necessarily shut down to just my party, but I take up the whole area. Would the city consider that an event?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:31:57
“So the applicant wants to remove fixed occupancy limits. So right now it's at 35. She also wants to remove numerical limits on umbrellas and furniture configuration. So I think in the staff report it was stated that the configuration is not necessarily locked into place. You know, and I would remove umbrellas because in the Ojai hot sun, unless if, you know, we put a limit on the size, like a nine foot market umbrella. I mean, if she added a few more market umbrellas, nine foot market umbrellas, I think that would be okay to shade her customers. So I don't want to lock in, she can only have…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:33:33
“I think that is right 35. I mean if she had come in with a proposed floor plan with different configuration That's something for us to consider, but all we have is what the existing furniture.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:34:11
“yeah so it can't just be anything it'd be nice to give it a hard number maybe it could be more but I think it's hard for us to really assess that I agree with that yeah so so my recommendation on that one is either continue it to allow the applicant to some information about that but I I doubt that we would uncap it”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:27
“So on that one, I think we need more information.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:36
“Oh, yeah, the Tivoli lights with covers.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:35:45
“Yeah, I would keep the Tivoli lights because that's part of our outdoor dining ordinance. So I would definitely keep the Tivoli lights.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:36:25
“OK. Yeah. I was just going to say, it has a detail with the. Great. Yeah.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:36:37
“So do we go on to number two? Sure. Okay. So they said remove reference to minors, replace with generic ABC requirements, remove reference to a specific ABC license type, 41 beer, wine, restaurant. So I'm actually okay with that request. I think that we, it's a C1 zone, It's a restaurant with outdoor dining. That would be a license 42. That's not our purview. That's ABC licensing. So we're, in my mind, we're approving the outdoor dining related to a restaurant, which is an approved use there. So I'm okay with their request on item two. Which is to just say that they have to comply with the…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:38:31
“Yeah, so it would allow it. It may be fine.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:39:17
“So that's number two, right? Can we move on to three?”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:43:45
“I would go with staff recommendation and keep it at one.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:48:20
“So So Lucas they can do that. Anyway, right they can do the temporary use permit.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:50:51
“Well, they're not supposed to be there at 6. I mean, our noise ordinance is very clear about that. So, I mean, I... That would be a code case that we'd be addressing. Yeah, so I would encourage neighbors to report that when it's happening because there is a clear ordinance that prohibits deliveries. I mean, Amazon comes... in the middle of the night now, so I mean, it's hard to tell Amazon not to come, but we have to deal with that somehow. I am for opening up the the availability of this business to open every day, seven to ten. I'm okay with that.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:51:48
“I am. But I do agree that the noise issue is a big one, you know, and is there a way um our ordinance our noise ordinance it just struck me it says outdoor dining section 5 1105 there's special noise sources in our noise ordinance that specifically mentions outdoor dining and what it says is outdoor dining is prohibited between the hours of 11 30 p.m and 6 a.m so i mean That, you know, that's what our noise, yeah, like why are we, so anyway. I understand the neighbors and their concern for the noise, the deliveries before 7 a.m. That's terrible. In a commercial zone, though, I find it really…”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:54:44
“Yeah. I think 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday is too restrictive. I agree. I think that's unreasonable for a commercial business.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:55:52
“So, you know the hours are a big play on that, you know, I Don't know if there's some way of like I just noticed something in the code so if this is truly a Restaurant because it has a commercial kitchen now and the restaurant is now justifying the 41 The code says that restaurant, cafe, outdoor dining is a full CUP. Just FYI. Not a minor.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 2:56:51
“yeah it is same notification that we're doing and it is here yeah no I know but I mean we all should be aware of that what I was looking up was restaurant it's very reasonable that we're looking at this yes it is reasonable and I don't know if there's a technical you know we're not approving an M CUP we should be approving a full-on CUP”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:02:52
“What if we did something like no alcohol before noon? So if it's a coffee shop, you want to go get your coffee in the morning and go sit out.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:03:24
“Right. So I think that's what Katrina's saying. Yeah, I mean, alcohol on the patio, so you're not having Bloody Marys first thing in the morning. I can see this place just like Three Birds. I go by that every morning. There's people there. The Duchess, there's people there. I think it opens at 7. People have coffee and pastries and they're mellow. They go in the back and they're on their computer. They're sitting there having conversation. It's mellow in the morning. I would be very surprised if there was just chaotic noise in the morning.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:04:12
“So that's why I think, you know, let them have the morning. And then I'm just saying as a potential, you know, what are the noise generators and limit those hours till the afternoon.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:14:38
“Real quick, the trailer language, deleting the trailer language.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026
- Play at 3:14:43
“Yeah, we're all okay with that? Absolutely. Okay, good. Pull that out, and then seven, no amplified music.”
Planning Commission · Aug 5, 2026