Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Let's get started. So I'll call to order the regular meeting, OHAI Planning Commission for Wednesday, October 1. Sherry, can we get a roll call?

Chair Trent? Here. Vice Chair Murphy? Here. Commissioner Graham?

Here.

Commissioner Chesley?

Here. One vacancy.

Awesome. Perfect. And Jonathan, you wanna lead us in the pledge? I didn't remember. Did you lead us last time? I did. You did. Oops. I'll do it. You'll do it this time? Okay. Thank you so much. I forgot.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

Alright. So let's see. Approval of the agenda. Anybody have any issues, Lucas?

No changes.

No changes? Changes? Okay. Cool. Alright. So let's this set at this time is set aside for public communications for anything that's not on the calendar for the public to address anything or items of items that are not scheduled on the agenda. I don't have any cards. Sherry, is there anybody on line? No. Alright. Perfect. So we'll move on to consent items. Meetings from the last or minutes from the last meeting? Anyone?

Not from the last meeting. Any changes?

I move acceptance. Two meetings.

Oh, the last meeting. Of August 20. August 20. Yeah. It's the last two meetings. Oh, last two meetings.

And September 30.

Oh, wow. Two meetings. Okay. I apologize. I didn't see that. Okay.

Can we approve them together? Yes.

You can take one action on both items. Yes.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Wanna make a motion?

Did he say one at a time?

No. He said we could do it in one Okay.

I move that we accept the minutes of August 20 and September 3.

Second. Alright. Sherry, can I get a roll call?

Chesley? Yes. Graham?

Yes. Murphy?

Yes. Trent? Yes.

Alright. So let's talk about disclosure of site visits, ex parte contacts. I did not have any ex parte contacts. I am familiar with the sites. Yeah. Anybody else?

The same. Familiar with both sites. No expect no ex parte contacts.

I'm gonna recuse myself from this item. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Thank you.

The line the street. Correct? Item number three.

The line on the street? That's right.

Yep.

No ex parte contacts. I drove past the subject site. Familiar with it.

Awesome. Awesome. Perfect. Alright. Who's gonna lead this one?

I am. Thank Thank you, chair and commissioners. Delay on the screen on your screen. This item, design review permit twenty five zero zero five, is regarding the renovation and restoration to the front elevations of 102 North Signal Street as well as 20 And 206 East Ohio Avenue, which front onto, those two addresses front onto the Ohio Arcade, which is Ohio, historic landmark number five. Just for your reference.

The building is a contributor to a California register of historical resources. California register listed Downtown Ojai Historic District and has received a major work permit from the historic preservation commission, and that was on August 18. Here's a location map. The renovation and restoration to the front elevation of 202, excuse me. Yes.

202 East Ojai Avenue includes repair and repainting of the existing, stucco surrounding the front door, the storefront, and the existing stucco is going to be repainted Navajo white, which is the color of the of the is official color of the arcade. The renovation and restoration also includes removal of paint from the transom and painting of the existing wood storefront and window frames. The color is saddle up brown while the existing doors will be painted a rustic red. The renovation to go back here. The renovation to 102 North Signal includes replacement of the existing storefront with a wood frame system.

The storefront is proposed to be flush with the exterior wall, and the door is proposed to open inward. The a new transom will be installed above the storefront replacing an existing stucco panel, and existing wood fascia board will be removed from above the existing windows at the Southwest corner excuse me. Yes. Southwest corner of the building, and ex and existing transoms are gonna be exposed and repaired. The wood window and door frames will be painted saddle up brown to match the ones on East Ohio Avenue.

Lastly, let me go back to this one. Oops. Oh, back to this one. The renovation and restoration to the front of 206 East Ohio Avenue includes removal of the bricks surrounding the storefront and replacement with stucco, replace metal framed storefront windows and transom with wood framing in the same size and location, as existing, and replace the Dutch door with a new wood door and paint the wood window and door frames saddle up brown, which again matches the other two, addresses. Overall, the proposed renovation and restoration efforts are seeking to restore and reintroduce some of the original materials and style while adapting the building for reuse.

Dividing the existing large single tenant space into two tenant spaces, that's the one that's creating here, the 102 North signal is going to provide for more potentially more commercial opportunities. The as proposed, the applicant's intention is to restore existing entries and expose forgotten transoms, install and paint wooden doors and windows, and patch up the, existing painting of the exterior stucco. Staff recommends that the commission approve the, adopt the, recommended approval and the resolution that's in your packet. Sorry. Here we have renderings.

Again, these are two angles of the 102 North signal, and here you have, two renderings. One is really showing, the top one is showing 202 East Ojai, and the bottom one is 206. And just because I was so conscious of it, I'm gonna let you know that the rendering, and I already spoke to the architect before the meeting, that the rendering here on the bottom here of the 102 North signal, the existing tenant space that's just north of 102 North signal is not part of the project. It's just in here for reference as it is part however, it is not being restored at all, and the door is set back. It's not flushed as it appears here.

I mean, it's not an issue. I just wanted to say it because I was so conscious of it. And again, with that, staff is recommending approval, and we do have the architect here if you have questions that I can't answer.

I'm just curious. First question for staff. 104 North Signals Tortilla House, it seems like the red door that's there it's kind of set back, is a different color than the rustic red that 102 will have. Is that right?

Yes.

Okay. Yeah. And I'm fine with the rustic red, but just from an optics.

Any other questions

for Scott? Yeah. Where's the vent that is or isn't being removed?

The so the the vent when the applicant initially submitted, they were, proposing to remove the vent immediately adjacent to the south of the entrance door, right next to the entrance door at 01:02 North signal. They were gonna remove a vent and put in a window. Are you are you referring there is a circular vent above the door. Is that what we're No. No.

So there are I'm gonna put this slide back up. Okay. There's a line of I have to share screen. Oh, I did not want to ask Lucas for help. Now I don't know how to share the screen, so I might have to do this. I'm gonna do this all by myself. And Trent is not getting impatient with me for some reason.

No, you're good.

Usually he he does, but maybe it's because this is last night. Let's see. Okay. So if you can see oh, share screen.

Yeah. You wanna share screen.

Okay. I have

to share screen.

Damn it.

It's okay.

I almost got through this without asking for assistance.

That's it. You know,

I'm I'm proud of myself. So hopefully

There we go.

Hopefully, the commission is happy. Okay. So unfortunately, pointer. No, I don't. Yes, do.

Oh, you do.

That is a vent. That is a vent.

That is a vent. Oh, those are the vents?

Yes. And so here, I'm gonna go to the bottom picture. This vent, these are cut outs. Yes. And they're wooden vents. Slats. Slats, exactly. So they look like vents. And so this one was that I'm pointing to now was proposed to be removed and replaced with a a large I'm gonna call it a storefront window, not an entrance but a window. And, this went to the HPC and the HPC denied the request, and the applicant came back, with a revision that included just eliminating that request altogether.

Okay.

So it is no longer an issue. So then at that time and that was August, whatever date I think August 18, the HPC approved the work permit, the major work permit for what you see

here. Okay. Okay. So those events all remain the

same. Yes.

Okay. So without, so just to make sure I am clear, so they approved a design that we're seeing here. Yes. Okay.

Okay. Let's go back to the vents. On page attachment a two of six, it's got the elimination of one of the existing wood vents. Is that just a historical reference that it had been in the original request?

Oh, I'm sorry. Page two of six?

Two of six.

Let me catch you.

Number two, third line from the bottom. Oh.

Yes. No? Yes. That is

an old reference. An old reference from their first application? Yes. Okay. That's why I'm I was confused.

And that that's an error. It shouldn't be in the report.

Okay. Okay. Good. Then I think I'm

on board. Yeah. Good catch. Nice.

Thank you. Yes. Good catch. While

I'm there, sure, could I just say I'm I'm not familiar with the with exactly what a clerestory window is. But when I looked it up, it sounded like what we might be talking about. Did you say a cursory window? Clerestory.

Clerestory. It's a clerestory window, and so a clerestory window is like these windows here.

Right above the doors? Yes. Okay. That is not the same as a c L E R e s t o r y?

Where are you? Maybe I misspelled it.

Well, I'm I'm wondering if we've just got a misspelling or if we have two different things

that are I'm going I'm I there are not two different things. We've got a clerestory and we have a transom. Those are the top windows. But if you can show me where you are, I'll The confirm

resolution?

It's in the resolution at the top. Three

of six?

One of six.

Of Tachmane. Just a sec.

I it's the resolution.

Maybe clear story is correct. But when I looked for it in the dictionary, it gave me C L E R E story.

It should be C L E R E. Not C L E E.

E r e. Okay. Okay. Missed billing. Thank you. You're welcome.

And so going yeah.

Clear store and just to make sure I'm clear. Clear story is it's clear window. Right? Yes. Correct. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. And it's it's I was just yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Makes sense.

I was

gonna say that's it's it's for light. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay.

As opposed to a transom which opens.

And, okay, so HPC HPC has approved. Do we have any questions for the architect?

Oh, go ahead. Just wanted if we go back to attachment a, page one of six, the last whereas, April 28. That says April 28. Sorry. I was thinking this was in order.

Yeah. Stumbled on that too. But I think they're going through two different sites historically.

Oh, yeah. That's exactly what they're doing.

Okay. Yes. We are looking at two different sites.

Yeah. Never mind. Okay.

Okay. Thanks for coming up. No. You're you're good. I think we might have some questions for Yeah. Yeah. So just so I'm clear. So the existing storefront that is today, you guys are bringing it back to what it like historically was in the past. I'm just I'm I'm just trying to picture it in my head of what it is now. I think it's like a it's kind of steel. It's like made a it's kind of a Yeah. It's There you go. Okay.

Yeah. So if You know, obviously, the taco shop's not in the not in Right. Scope but it's here for reference. Just to the right of that, that's where the existing opening signal. Yeah. It's kind of angled and set. Yeah.

Just

like a nineteen sixties style, very thin steel frame.

Yeah. And that door is hard to open because I've been many times. Yeah.

So we're just trying to you know, we feel like wood kinda goes more Yeah. In tune with the original original building. So we're proposing a wood storefront system there. Right. And then it will open inward. So our our occupant load is low enough where we don't need a door that opens out onto the sidewalk.

Right. Right.

Cool.

If you put in a wood frame, are we increasing the fire hazard?

It's it as far as build building code goes, it's separation distance between buildings. It's it's not it's not materiality here. So we're well within our allowable opening area here on

the Most of it's stone, but I'm I'm just

There's there's no specific fire ratings that these exterior doors are required to to obtain.

And then the the windows that are facing they're next to Ohio Avenue, the ones in white right there where we had the clear clear story, I guess. What is that material today? So currently, there's,

those were not original to the building, but those were that opening was installed in the nineteen twenties.

Mhmm.

And so those two lower windows are existing.

Mhmm.

Doing some, exploratory interior demolition, we we found out that there's some existing windows there. So we're exposing those and replacing them. So and they are in some of the original historic photos. Okay. Above that, that that's kinda stucco infill around there. Yeah. So we're just kind of prepare you know, proposing to keep that. It is kind of a funky t shaped element, but there was currently on the very top of that above the where the clerestory windows are, there's just a a piece of wood that's attached to the side of the building. So we're just taking that off and cleaning up the existing stucco

Okay.

In that area.

Why, you know, paint that the Navajo white instead of having it, you know, align with the rustic brown of the door or I guess the rustic red of the door or like the brown of the the door on East Ohio?

Good question. I think it it's the because the material itself is stucco and so we're we're maintaining that same color through for all the proposed stucco and then, you know, the wood has its own proposed color as well. But we, you know, would be open to changing colors if necessary.

Not necessary in my eyes.

Not necessary.

Am curious.

The historic preservation committee is happy with the colors.

Yeah. And and I apologize if I missed this, but the current IV that's there, you guys don't have any plans to remove that, do you?

No. I I believe it's been trimmed back some recently and I apologize for not including that in the renderings but we're propose planning on keeping it there as as it is. Yeah.

I know that's a very prominent feature in town. People love it. Especially when it blooms, it's really cool. Nice. Okay. And then on the front side, the side facing Ohio Avenue, you guys aren't You're you're you're aligning as much as you can with the rest of the arcade, I'm assuming?

Yes. Mark, can you go to those? Okay. Yeah. There you go. So on one zero two signal on the upper upper image, that's all existing. We're just kinda repainting and repairing Okay. Windows. They're above the transom above the the doors is painted currently. Yeah. So we're replacing that with a window as well. Okay. I believe it's a painted piece of glass actually. Yeah. And then 206 Ojai, that's where Heavenly Honey current currently is.

Mhmm. We're just replacing the door which is kind of a a country style Dutch door with heavy articulation on it. So we're just adding a more simple entry door. And then to the right of that, the large window is, again, that kind of steel nineteen sixties style windows. So we're putting in just a a wood framed window in that opening. But because they're in operation, we we didn't wanna do anything too elaborate or invasive and put the tenants out.

Oh, that's that's very good.

Is that will be flush with the building?

The the one on the right where Heavenly Honey currently is is kind of angled a bit. Yes. So we're we're maintaining that existing You angle. Okay. But the but

One zero two, you're going flush.

Correct. And that's remaining. We're just painting the existing Yes. System there.

I like the characters you put in there. It's very cool. It get it helps with scale, you know. It's good.

There's no orange bench in there. Case Yeah. No.

No. You beat me to it. You

beat The orange to bench by the way is still there.

It's not an It's agenda.

It's exactly it.

Just thought I'd mention it.

Awesome. Thank you. You guys have any more questions? No.

No questions.

No. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Alright. We'll open it up to public comment. Any cards? I don't see any cards. No? Okay. Sherry, anybody online? No. No? Alright. Let's let's discuss.

It all seems above board. Historic Planning Commission has approved it. Looks good.

Yeah. I like the idea that the Historic Preservation Committee had a chance to take a look at it and give their stamp of approval.

I'm curious about why the 01/2006 rather, honey storm is not going flush like the others.

Well, part of it, like I mentioned, there's a tenant currently in there and, you know, we just wanted to do kind of a, I don't wanna say minimal, but just kind of upgrade the existing system to to not be so invasive to their operations and also to, you know, it could require some structural work and and different articulation of that space in order to to change that. So we we just kind of decided to keep that more or less as it's articulated now.

Okay. Awesome. Thank you so much. Alright. Anybody wanna make motion?

I move that we accept the design review permit 25Dash005 to restore or yes, restore the fronts of 202 And 206 East Ohio Avenue and 102 North Signal Street as proposed.

Did we want to change the resolution to remove reference to that additional window for 01/2002?

Is that in the resolution as

well as That was in the resolution, yes.

Where is Petrin A, page three of six, project specific conditions number one, third line.

Yes.

And are we excluding the existing fixed wooden vents? Or are we keeping those in all of them? That was my last question.

I'm sorry?

It's eliminating one of

It's We're eliminating one vent?

We're not eliminating any vents.

Any vents. They're staying

at this. Says whereas, so that needs to

Right. So that needs to that needs to come out. Come out. Yes.

So under project specific conditions, number one, third line, I would just remove the entire third line.

Yeah. It's a good call. Yeah. Strike it out.

Yes. But then also, as commissioner Murphy was saying, it's it's in the whereas as well. So that'll be removed.

Okay.

It yeah. In section one, it's actually not a whereas. It's it's now therefore be it resolved. And then section one, it says eliminating one of the you know, if there's if there are any mentions of fixed wood fence in the in any of the resolution, they'll be removed.

Okay. It's in the first whereas.

Thank you. It will be removed. Okay. With those corrections.

And you wanna fix the spelling and the resolution?

I think that When

the proposal came in April it was that was the proposal in Oh yeah. They came in with revisions. I think it's important to note that that was the original.

Okay. I think we're just What

I'm pointing

to is after now therefore on page three of exhibit That

needs to be removed.

Section one and then project specific conditions. Right.

Because that is current.

Eliminating one in the warehouse. Okay. You'll fix it. Yes. And the and the ClearStory. ClearStory. ClearStory. A l I r is the way it's pronounced in the dictionary.

Alright. Clearstory. We get a second?

I will second that.

Okay. Sherri, could we get a roll? Graham?

Aye. Murphy?

Yes. Trent?

Yes. Alright. Thank you so much. Appreciate it, guys.

Thank you

very much.

Yeah. And

we'll we'll bring Jonathan back. Alright.

Welcome back, mister Chesley.

Welcome back, sir.

Were you working on that project or what? No. Okay.

Let's move on to item are we on item four? Yeah. I guess we are on item four. Yeah. It's on item four. Item four. Okay. Update regarding conditional use permit, parking lot condition. Lucas, I think this one's yours.

Yes. This is me. So this is an informational item. I'm just giving the commission an update and certainly you can ask questions as as I provide the update. So, the this item came before the planning commission in April or so earlier this year.

And with that item, there were several conditions that were agreed upon. And we've kind of held the applicant's feet to the fire to ensure that these were being made and maintained. And they were three conditions in particular that I wanted identified staff updates to each of those. The first condition was condition of approval number five that stated within thirty days from the date of approval, the applicant property owner shall provide payment to the city the satisfaction for in lieu parking requirement pursuant to title 10 chapter three 13 which is the in lieu parking facility fees in the amount of $16.05 $34.98. So it was basically two spaces what they were referencing and I had opted to do that as opposed to some of the other options that were on the table for them.

That's a once only fee?

Yeah. So, that's a one time fee. It goes into our MPEG fee bucket and then we report back every year in terms of where it's going and how how big it's growing. To be fair, this doesn't grow very quickly so we usually let it grow grow over time and then use it for like a one shot incident.

Have we looked at

revising those standards and do we know what other cities of similar size are doing?

So, you talking about the impact fee itself?

The impact fee being one time versus ongoing or, you know, what they can do?

Yeah. That's an excellent question. So, there has been a lot of interest and certainly at the most recent approval for city council budget for this next fiscal year. The impact fees as well as the fee schedule itself as a as a general update hasn't been updated since 2019. Some of those fees haven't been updated much further back.

Like for instance, this fee really hasn't been updated. Although, we do an update every year, I mean, to be fair, it's grossly under serving its purpose at this point. So, yes, that is being looked at. The timing for that is uncertain but I wanna say it's in the near term versus a long term because it is a budgetary I'm

now. Great. Thank you.

Yep. So, that's the first piece. And just just to note from a historical context, there's not a lot of opportunities that we see for this, but when we see those opportunities, we always identify that as an option. Applicants typically don't take advantage of it. Instead, they find other routes and avenues.

So it's it's good to see that there are still individuals and and applicant applicants willing to just pay and then we can use that for betterment of the community overall. So It's good. The second one is condition of approval number six which states within one hundred and eighty days from the approval date which was April 2, the property owner shall work with the code compliance division to address and resolve the code com complaint with the associated parking lot located at 111 West Matelli House Street to the satisfaction of the community development director. So just to give you an update, I forget how I how I wrote this. Yeah.

So I I met on-site with the co compliance officer and the applicant and ended up being the architect as well to sort through the co compliance issues. And those issues have been or in in the process of being resolved. What that means is that one of them was a security issue in terms of lighting and that has been resolved. The second piece is the uneven pavement and so they've submitted for and received approval for permit to resurface and then restripe. Okay.

Good. So they've received the necessary piece in order for them to move forward. Interesting thing is is the way in which a building permit works is that you basically have a hundred and eighty days by which to start, basically start the construction. I'm looking for that to be much quicker so that we get this resolved much much sooner than the one hundred and eighty days. So I've asked for them to put together a timeline. Awesome.

Thank you.

Can you remind us that is available to the public, right?

Yes.

It's privately owned?

It is owned by AT and T, yes.

Do we know whether there will be plans in the future to continue it as a parking lot or is it a would it then become available for sale?

Are you asking me is AT and T looking to sell it?

I'm asking you if it's possible for them to sell it.

Once the co compliance issues are resolved, then yes.

Yes. And they won't

So last for they're me going to they're going to resurface it into a parking lot. I mean, an upgraded parking lot.

Correct. And restripe.

And then they can do anything they want with it.

Within the VMU regulations, yes.

Yes. That parking is part of the facility itself. So it would have to be separated from the property?

Well, it has been. Through through the conditions, that's that's the reason why we brought

that forward in

put it to us in April to get rid of the required parking.

That's right.

And then Okay. They do wanna sell it.

So I think that's the ultimate goal.

They've they've identified their intentions. They just they haven't identified a timeline by which they wanna do that. Sure.

Do they tell us

So the we're making them resurface On it

the table.

And then it becomes possibly not a parking lot.

So, it's got to go through some sort of a public hearing process in order to change it from a parking lot to something else in terms of putting a building on the site. There's already a building on the site, it's being used kind of more for utility storage and security reasons.

That come through the planning commission?

So, from a design review permit, yes.

Yes. Okay.

Okay. Awesome. Any other questions?

Hold on.

There's a

there's a

There's a condition of approval Slow

down, John. Slow down. Too close. He's closed.

Down. Me just And actually, seven is just a continuation of what I was just talking about, which is a hundred and eighty day piece. And we're working on establishing a timeline by which they're gonna be resurfacing. The interesting thing with this as well with the permit that was issued is they're removing the chain link fence that's been there for quite some time. Being on-site, I didn't even realize that there was a light on-site for security reasons. It just hasn't been activated for the longest time. Really, just, it was changing out a bulb.

Is that one of those lights? Is that a light that's active action activated?

So No?

It it would be

What's your your is it active? What do you mean? Like motion sensor?

Yes. No. It would be nice if it were in that it would be neighborhood pleasant to have it be dark unless there were

Unless there's some sort of motion.

Unless there's activity. I noticed it in the parking lot at Matilija last night and I thought that was really nice. It's dark for the neighborhood but when you go walking it turns on and it makes for a safer walk.

That's something to consider. Yeah. So

Okay.

A request.

Fair enough.

And I think we have a public comment. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, sir. You're welcome. Mhmm.

So Brian Akins, I'm just here as a member of the Historic Preservation Commission. Wasn't gonna say anything but I couldn't miss the moment that I was here for the last meeting that we had. Wendy Barker, our executive director was here and we had a chance. So that lot is right behind the museum. I have stumbled and walked, climbed through the potholes that are in that at nighttime and can tell you that the dark sky ordinance is doing great in that

plot. It's yeah. Positive.

But but the reason I wanted to get up was so when I was here, you know, different ideas, city buying it, somehow it becoming right now, the museum uses it as an overflow. And there was a gentleman in our midst who sat where Jonathan is sitting who was a champion for this ending up being made available to the museum. And that's our own Jamie Bennett who we know and love. He was like, I think this needs to go be associated with the museum. Sure. And we really appreciated that night and and like all of us are sorry for his passing. Just wanna share that.

Thank you, Brian. That was very good.

It was awesome.

Okay. Alright. Anything else, Lukas?

It's just an informational item. Okay.

We'll close the public hearing or public communication. Yeah.

Anything online?

Anything online, Cherry? Nope. Nope? Alright. Future agenda items.

I'm curious about El Paseo Road. Where is that? What kind of restaurant? What's a

Let's see. El Paseo Road restaurant in

Nazareth It's down in one of your incomplete

Pending future.

The third item down. It's where Laurel Springs School was. Oh.

Oh, it's that two story building right before you go up. Used to be the old bank. Yes. The old bank.

Well, I know where

that is. It's kind of a was it a bank or was it a, hold on, was it

a It was a bank, it was a school.

School. Okay. Yeah. The schools that I remember, right? Yeah. So, that is gonna be coming before this body as kind of a mixed use association. So, once it's complete, you'll be seeing it.

Could you explain to us what the difference between incomplete and in review is?

So, incomplete means that we've sent out a corrections letter identifying the items that are necessary for us to re to fully review and consider it to be complete. Items that are in review are either in one of two stages either they have just been recently submitted or they've resubmitted based on the corrections that have been provided to the applicant and now it's in review for completeness.

Thank you. Yeah.

So, for our next meeting for the fifteenth, there are no items that are ready for this body to review either public hearing or otherwise. So it's it's recommended that we just cancel this meeting. But for November 5, I do know that we have there's definitely one item that is that's gonna be ready potentially too is what we're looking at right now.

And is two forty two where oh god. What's the name? It recently changed restaurant names?

Yes. The

Jeff Becker special as well?

Susan, that's It's not a Jeff Becker.

It's not? No. Because I know I have like a tree issue. Yes. Which one is it?

Oh, High Mountain Farms.

Oh, High Mountain Farms.

Oh, okay.

I'm excited to see that place. Cool.

Yep. So that that's gonna be coming forward. I just met with them to sort through some of the kind of the detail pieces to make sure that it's consistent.

So Right.

I think they're they're they'll be ready. And I think there's one more. I can't necessarily put my finger on which one, but I do remember us talking earlier this week about one more that's gonna be ready.

Was it the driveway variant, Shady Lane or the Men Gables? Not on

the It's not on the list.

It's not on the list. Oh, jeez. The variance isn't ready yet.

We got quite a quite a load of stuff.

Yeah. It's interesting. The remember at one point for some of the individuals here, some will remember more than others, We had a logjam of projects that were really ready to go. Yeah. Here, instead, we have a logjam of items that just can't get to completion for us to

move forward.

They're just We're asking we're not asking for the world here. We're asking for information so that you have a complete application for They're

in the batter's box. They're getting ready. Yep. Yep. Interesting. They're in

the hopper just not ready to be distributed yet. Yeah.

Okay. Cool. Alright. Well, Lucas, back to you. Director's report.

Yes. Director's report. So there's two things that I wanted to mention and just kind of bring to light. One is so we have a process here referred to as a director's exemption. And what that is basically is when there's a design review permit that comes before this body, that's a public hearing.

However, when items are determined by myself not necessarily be worthy of this this body, they go through what's referred to as a director's exemption. When that is sent out, it's posted on our website on one of the landing page of pieces, in addition to that, each viewer receive you receive an email. Not only do you receive an email, but also city council does as well. In the event that you have questions or concerns or are wanting to call the item up, that's when you you reach out to me or you reach out one of the staff members and we walk you through what that process looks like.

I'm not on that email chain.

So, that's why I'm bringing it up because I wanna make sure that everybody's aware of this and receiving the information. We may end up doing a test after this to make sure everybody's getting the emails. Because we have emails that you provided when you first came on the commission, I wanna make sure that those emails are the correct emails that we're that we're using moving forward. Because I did notice the responses have dropped off in terms of, I mean, John typically responds, Judy sometimes you do, Bennett responded I think, I wanna say, I always had conversation with him on pretty much every single DE and obviously, formally, Quillicy was the same way. It was either a conversation or an email or both.

So, I'm not saying that you have to, but if you have it's important because the way in which we're looking at it, these items that are going as a director's exemption, we don't think they're worthy to bring forward for this full body to review because you have a number of items already on this this running list that you're gonna be seeing in the future. These are just items that are kind of low hanging fruit, if you will. But it's important that I wanna make sure each of you are getting them. So, if I'm hearing that maybe one of you aren't, then we just need to to double check the emails to make sure you're getting them. Alright? So, that's the first one. Second one is this is

I was gonna say that.

Do you wanna say it? Do you wanna go first and then I'll So

just wanna let everybody know that this is my last meeting of with the planning commission. I'll be stepping down after tonight. I just wanted to personally thank all of you. You guys have been fantastic. I feel like this body has done an exceptional job. I mean, it's been evident with how smooth everything has gone for the past, oh gosh, a few years at least. And, you know, it's it's a, you know, owed to you guys. So I appreciate that. And staff, Lucas, you've been fantastic throughout my I don't know how many years it's been. Think it's been five roughly. It's been

five years. Five

years. And you've been great throughout the whole process. So I sincerely appreciate expertise, your professionalism, and how you've always been a a voice of reason as we try to tackle these big issues. So, you.

There have been some big issues, Adrian.

We've had a lot of big issues. Yes. But, you're always very level headed and cool and, you know, you approach it the right way and I appreciate that.

For me, it's always about the facts. It's important that I provide this this body and obviously city council as well and historic preservation commission the facts. Not opinions, I know sometimes the Commission and Council want to know staff's opinions and I try to steer away from that instead, just these are the facts. Here, this let me give you the playbook by which these facts operate through.

Yeah. No. I appreciate that.

John, it's been a it's been a pleasure working with you. I look forward to seeing you out and about. I saw you for the July 4 when we were

That's right.

Yeah. When we were going down the street.

You had a good outfit, by the way.

My entire family was there, so we were just like cruising around. You started you were sworn in on the July 14 Okay. 2020.

2020.

Really, in the midst of the pandemic.

That's right.

So, instead of meeting like this Yeah. Was all we were meeting virtually only. Yeah. So, everybody was learning Zoom. And just to be fair, when we first started, it was only our second Zoom meeting that we had done because we were canceling meeting after meeting trying to sort through how we were gonna kinda work through it. So, there were individuals, I was just watching the meeting this morning that were like, you're muted, I can't hear you. Like, that it was that kind of stuff, like in the very beginning when we were learning about what Zoom Yeah. Really And now, it's just like, it's no big deal. You have been involved in a lot of small, what some would argue is a small versus what would some argue are larger projects. Ojai Rancho Inn.

Yeah. That was a big one. Hotel Oroblar. Yeah, I remember that. I mean,

the one that I think everybody kind of forgets about because it was still in the midst of the pandemic is the housing element because we were halfway in between being virtual versus being in person.

Right.

And the housing element itself, these these items and these meetings weren't like, hey, we've got one meeting and we're making decisions. El Robar was six meetings. A long, yes. A lot of discussion, a lot of consideration.

A lot of public input. Yeah. Yeah. Was very

The housing element, Yep. Six So, it it was these items aren't to be taken lightly and certainly this body, the three of you and then the fourth that we hope will be coming on soon, you will be challenged. John was challenged on a regular basis. Absolutely. Right? Yeah. Met those challenges with the information we were providing and the questions you were asking. Yeah. Those all those pieces are important to the process. Quillese said it, I think said it best is that, we do good work here on a regular basis and I think the commission Yeah.

I commend you for that because on a regular basis, you dig into the details because that's what you're you're brought into to do. You're the one body that is actually, aside from City Council obviously, that is mandated to be a part of this process. The other commissions are not. They're they're elected by by City Council. But here, state law requires this body to be here. So, I appreciate you and I certainly appreciate each one of you for your insight, your questions, your comments. I don't take them lightly. Yeah. Even from the community, when the community comes in and they have questions, I don't take stuff lightly either.

Yeah. I think this body does an amazing job of asking very probing questions and really getting to the truth of things. And I do like the fact how we make things more conversational. I think it puts the applicants at ease a little bit and they open up. And I think it helps the public too. So I appreciate it. Agreed. But yeah, I mean I have to say that I've built a lot of good relationships here. I mean I did what I was trying to do. Wanted lead by example and show my kids, hey, here's how you give back to the community. I feel like I've done that.

You don't wanna do that

for another five years? I just feel like I'm in a place where it's probably a good time. I think we got some good people coming on board and I think we're in good hands with the folks that we have. I feel confident moving forward. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. All right. So finally, our City Council liaison.

Make it long. Let's make it make this meeting last for John. We're gonna filibuster I'm

glad you all are here today because I wanted to start no. I'm joking. First of all, John, I I I'm surprised to hear this news, and thank you so much for your service. I am going to miss working with you and and in that in the capacity that we've worked together. You have been an exemplary commissioner.

Oh, thank you.

Really, I was shocked. And I still am digesting the news. So

It should be just fine.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I love this is a great commission, and and I think that it's, you know, it's really we forgot expertise with the others who who remain, and we need to get busy selecting two more commissioners to to fill very big shoes, yours and and commissioner Bennett as well, who I offer my deep condolences for the whole city that that we had such loss. So on a different note, I am your liaison for the next quarter, and so you will be seeing me at these meetings. I won't be able to be at the next one.

Unfortunately, I'll be out of town, but I'll join in from Zoom. So I'll be I'll be online. And if I can support you, if I can do anything, answer any questions, please feel free to reach out. And and, yeah, you did a great job. And and I'm gonna stop talking so that you can leave before seven.

Thank you, Rachel. Alright, guys. So with that, we're officially done. Thank you. What time is it?