Ojai, CA Seal

 AGENDA

PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026, 6:00 PM

CITY HALL CHAMBERS, 401 S. VENTURA STREET, OJAI, CA 93023


VIEWING & ACCESS
Public participation is encouraged! The meetings are conducted in a hybrid model, providing both in-person attendance and virtual public comment via the Zoom link below. Virtual attendance via Zoom is the only way to remotely provide public comment. Pre-registration is not required for public comment via Zoom. Instead, Zoom participants will utilize the “hand-raise” function to indicate their desire to speak on an item. The meeting is also livestreamed on the City's website at ojai.ca.gov/525/2968/Public-Meetings, on YouTube at youtube.com/@ojaicity, and on Spectrum Channel 10. See “Public Comment Options” below for further instruction.

ZOOM LINK - September 2, 2026 - Regular Meeting

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

Public Communications is the time set aside during the Planning Commission meeting for members of the public to address the Planning Commission on items of City business other than scheduled agenda items.  Matters raised at this time may be briefly discussed by the Commission and will generally be referred to staff and/or placed on a subsequent agenda.  Under State law, other than for emergency items, no action can be taken at this meeting.

CONSENT CALENDAR

All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed.  There will be no discussion of these items unless, before the Planning Commission votes on the motion to adopt, specific items are removed from the Consent Calendar for separate motions.

1.

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Planning Commission August 19, 2026

 
RECOMMENDATION:

Approved as submitted

Planning Commission Minutes - August 19, 2026

DISCLOSURE OF SITE VISITS AND EX-PARTE CONTACTS

Commissioners to provide disclosure of site visits and ex-parte contacts for items on the agenda.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEM(S)

2.

Planning Commission Review and Consideration (DRP 05-01)AMD | Review the Approved Phasing Plan Progress and Consider an Adjustment to the Cottages Among the Flowers Approved Phasing Plan Located at 312 West Aliso Street; Zoning Classification is Multi-Family Residential (R-2); General Plan Land Use Designation is Medium High-Density Residential (MHR); Property Owner/Applicant: Ojai Bungalows, LP/The Becker Group Inc; Representative: Jeffrey R. Becker, President

 
RECOMMENDATION:

Review the Approved Phasing Plan Progress for the Cottages Among the Flowers project and consider a requested adjustment to the order of actions, located at 312 West Aliso Street. The applicant/property owner request is Attachment A.

Administrative Report - Cottages Phasing
Attachment A - Applicant Request Letter
Attachment B - Cottages Phasing Plan
Attachment C - Cottages Conditions of Approval
Attachment D - Settlement Agreement FAQs
Attachment E - Cottages CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration
Attachment F - Cottages FAQs

DISCUSSION ITEM(S)

3.

Tree Permit (T 26-2213029) and Zone Clearance (ZCL 26-028) | Regarding the removal of nine protected trees and construction of a new 4,585 square foot single-story single family residence with an attached 728 square foot two-car garage, a detached 740 square foot single-story detached accessory dwelling unit, 914 square foot in-ground pool, and a 304 linear feet, three to five feet high site wall, located at 824 Foothill Lane, Assessor’s Parcel Number 020-0-010-340. General Plan Designation is Low Density Residential (LR). Zoning Classification Single-Family Residential, Low Density, (R-O-1) District. Property Owner(s): William and Sabra Niles. Applicant: Brett Ettinger, Ferguson-Ettinger Architect

 
RECOMMENDATION:

 

1.    Open the public hearing, accept public testimony, and close the public hearing; and
2.    The Planning Commission adopt Planning Commission Resolution including a recommendation to the Community Development Department Director required findings and conditions of approval for Tree Permit (T 26-2213029) and Zone Clearance (ZCL 26-028) for the removal of nine protected trees and construction of a single family residence and accessory structures.

Administrative Report - 824 Foothill Lane
Attachment A - PC Resolution
Attachment B - Arborist Report
Attachment C - Tree Protection Plan
Attachment D - CFMP excerpt
Attachment E - Plans

4.

Proposed Modifications to the Tree Ordinance 

 
RECOMMENDATION:

Discuss and provide comments to the proposed tree ordinance revisions together with the comments included in the redlined document (Attachment A).

Administrative Report - Tree Ordinance
Attachment A - Redline Tree Ordinance
Attachment B - Workshop notes, April 7, 2026
Attachment C - Workshop notes, May 28, 2026
Attachment D - Community Forest Managment Plan

INFORMATIONAL ITEM(S)

5.

Future Agenda Items

 
RECOMMENDATION:

Review and file.

Future Agenda Items list

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

COMMISSION MEMBER REPORTS

CITY COUNCIL LIASION - Mayor Andy Gilman

ADJOURNMENT

The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is September 16, 2026.

 

Posted August 28, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.  

Shari Herbruck, Principal Planning and Building Technician

shari.herbruck@ojai.ca.gov

WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS

All written public comments will be published here for public access. Please see "Public Comment Options" below for detailed instructions on how to submit.


ACCOMMODATIONS
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call (805) 646-5581. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

If you feel that a language interpreter is necessary for you to participate in this meeting, notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements for an interpreter to assure your participation/understanding of this meeting.

Si considera que un intérprete de idiomas es necesario para participar en esta reunión, la notificación 48 horas antes de la reunión le permitirá a la Ciudad hacer arreglos razonables para que un intérprete asegure su participación/comprensión de esta reunión del Concejo Municipal.

Para Español por favor llame al (805) 646-5581 ext. 100 o por correo electronico a cityclerk@ojai.ca.gov.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Agenda reports and other disclosable public records related to agenda items are available on the City's website at ojai.ca.gov/525/2968/Public-Meetings and at City Hall located at 401 S. Ventura Street, Ojai, California, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS
Written Comments: In order for staff to provide written public comments timely to the legislative body, written/emailed public comments must be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting.
You may always submit written comments to the City via mail, in person at City Hall, or via email to the email address listed above (under Adjournment).If your written comment is received by 3:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting date, your comments will be distributed to the legislative body and recorded on the City website. Written comments received after 3:00 p.m. may not be distributed or recorded on the City website until after the meeting.

Verbal Comments: Verbal Comments will be received on any item on the agenda at the time the agenda item is heard. Comments may be made in person at the meeting or through Zoom, via the link at the top of the Agenda. Pre-registration is not required for public comment via Zoom. Instead, Zoom participants will utilize the hand-raise function to indicate their desire to speak on an item.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
All materials related to an item on this agenda, including written public comments, will be available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, and following the meeting, will be accessible on the City of Ojai's website at ojai.ca.gov.

As a government agency, the City of Ojai is subject to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.). Please be advised that all communications submitted to City officials and staff are subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act. There are limited exceptions that allow the City to redact personal information under the California Public Records Act. If you have concerns regarding privacy, please do not include your personal identifying information, such as your name, e-mail, phone number, and home address in your correspondence to the City, including, but not limited to, public comment.

If you challenge the actions of this Commission/Committee in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the public notices, or in written correspondence delivered to the Commission/Committee at, or prior to, the public hearing (California Government Code Section 65009).

Any legal action by an applicant seeking to obtain a judicial review of the Commission/Committee's decision on a Hearing listed on this Agenda may be subject to the 90-day filing period of and governed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.

LEVINE ACT WARNING
Applicants and their agents before this Commission/Committee are subject to the campaign disclosure provisions detailed in Government Code Section 84308. No City Commissioner/Committee member may accept, solicit, or direct a contribution of more than $500 from any party or agent for 12 months subsequent to the date a final decision is rendered by the City. This prohibition commences when your application has been filed, or the proceeding is otherwise initiated.

A party to a City proceeding, which includes both applicants and agents, shall disclose on the record of the proceeding any contribution of more than $500 made to any Commissioner/Committee member by the applicant or agent, during the preceding 12 months. No party to a City proceeding, or agent, shall make a contribution to a Commissioner/Committee member during the proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered by the City.

Prior to rendering a decision on a City proceeding, any Commissioner/Committee member who received a contribution of more than $500 within the preceding 12 months from any party, or agent, to a proceeding shall disclose that fact on the record of the proceeding and shall be disqualified from participating in the proceeding. However, if any Commissioner/Committee member receives a contribution that otherwise would require disqualification and returns the contribution within 30 days of knowing about the contribution and the relevant proceeding, the Commissioner/Committee member shall be permitted to participate in the proceeding.

If you believe that these provisions apply to you or a Commissioner/Committee member, please inform the City Clerk at the earliest possible opportunity. Failure to do so may affect the City's ability to process your application.