Scott
Eicher, CEO of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, cautioned the
commission that the wording of the ordinance might have a significant
effect on already existing chain businesses downtown that have proved
an asset to the city, such as Radio Shack.
Local
developer Ron Polito was concerned that an ordinance banning chain
stores might scare off some businesses the city would otherwise welcome.
Press about Ojai looking to ban chains had already deterred a restaurateur
who was interested in opening an Italian bistro on Polito's property
on the corner of Ojai Avenue and Caņada Street. Because he already
owned a few other restaurants, when he thought the city was going
to ban chain stores he didn't want to get involved in the mess, said
Polito.
He
also suggested local residents might be resistant to having chains
because they are afraid of the visual effect, rather than the product.
"You
can buy the same Campbell's soup at Vons that you get at Starr Market,
there's no difference," Polito said. He also wasn't sure that
chains hadn't become a problem yet, and suggested that people were
reacting on fear.
Davis
disagreed.
"I
don't think the issue is just a visual one," she said. "I
like to see the money I spend going back into the community. When
I buy a cup of coffee from a local business owner I know that it is
going to a local resident and that money is circulating here. If I
bought that cup of coffee at Starbucks it would be going to some huge
corporation and not into the community."
Planning
Commissioner John Mirk agreed.
"The
thing that bothers me the most about these chains is that they are
sucking money out of the community and taking it somewhere else."
Commissioner
Susan Weaver suggested that planning staff look into the city of Coronado.
An ordinance restricting formula businesses in downtown Coronado was
challenged in court but the court upheld the ordinance, she said.
Commissioner
Paul Blatz said that he was eager for the city to act as quickly as
possible on the issue.
The
Planning Commission finally agreed to direct staff to come up with
a size restriction ordinance for the downtown Arcade area and surrounding
streets, to bring back to the commission. The zoning ordinance could
apply to commercial properties from the "Y" shopping center
to Gridley Road.
As
city manager Jere Kersnar suggested, a size ordinance would be well
within the city's decision-making powers and could be done quickly
with relatively little risk of legal action against the city.
They
also directed staff to come up with a committee comprised of planning
commissioners and community members to discuss the issue of chain
stores in Ojai.
Earlier
in the meeting Santa Barbara developer Dario Pini received an earful
from planning commissioners and Ojai residents who were less than
pleased with the results of his refurbished hotel on 406 W. Ojai Ave.
Some
ornate additions to the mission-style dome, towering over the hotel
was a strong point of contention. During Pini's last visit to the
Planning Commission meeting, commissioners had specifically requested
a plain dome with a blue tile base, simple and subtle to fit in with
Ojai's architectural scheme.
Pini's
newly finished dome, much to the dismay of the commission has been
embellished with vertical bands of colorful decorative, hand-painted
tiles
.
"Is
there something about not having tiles on the dome, which we decided
at the last meeting, that you didn't understand," asked Mirk.
Pini's
architect Brian Murphy pleaded the case that traditional Moorish domes
were seldom plain and that since the commission wanted authentic Mission
Revival architecture, that was what they got.
"We've
tried to get this project completed. But you've made these changes
that frankly make it look worse, that the Planning Commission never
approved of," said Blatz. "I can't imagine what you were
thinking."
Pini's
architect told commissioners that he and Pini agreed with much of
the city planner's recommendations including some changes to the parking
structure and trash enclosure. But pleaded with commissioners to keep
the ornamental tiles on the dome and some on the structure, which
Pini's sister had made by hand.
The
commission was not sympathetic.
"You
seem to have a profound disrespect of our findings and approvals,"
said Commissioner Steven Foster. "I think we have to be careful
that we don't set a precedent. We have to show that we can't be manipulated
in a way that this is being brought to the commission tonight."
Some
community members chimed in.
"I'm
so glad to know that you didn't approve this building as it is,"
said Ojai resident Meg Goodwin to the commission. "I'm sorry
that the developer has put so much work into it but frankly it looks
a little busy. I didn't know whether it was Algiers or Mexico. Anyway
I'm glad it wasn't your idea."
Pini
responded that he was sorry to hear that a few people were unhappy
with his project.
"But
everyone else I talk to has given us overwhelmingly positive feedback,"
he said. "The general population is greatly in support of us."
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