Council to Vote on Plan That Affirms City Ideals

Some may consider it a dry planning document governing land use and traffic circulation in Ojai.

But after three years of communitywide debate, officials are billing tonight’s City Council vote on amendments to the 95-page General Plan as a “defining moment,” ensuring that such local ideals as a “village-like atmosphere” and “traffic calming” become formally enshrined in city policy.

“These are the tools for the next millennium,” said Bill Prince, planning director. “It will put in one comprehensive document the goals and policies to implement the continuance of Ojai as a traditional small town.”

The document, which is expected to be approved, is seen as a rejection of suburban planning models built around neat housing tracts that require cars to connect residential areas to the rest of the city.

Instead, the plan’s designation of a new “village/mixed-use” zone is intended to discourage the use of cars and enable people to live and work in the same area. It also creates an “open space” zone that is designed to preserve parkland and agricultural parcels valued by residents of the rural retreat.

Moreover, the plan seeks to limit new and expanded highways in favor of growing the city’s network of pedestrian and bicycle trails. And existing roads will be made more pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly by “traffic calming” techniques--including the addition of speed bumps and traffic circles--to slow vehicles and increase road capacity.

Despite such goals, City Manager Andy Belknap said he doesn’t expect the document to have a noticeable impact on the lifestyle of the average resident.

“The reality is for Mr. and Mrs. Ojai, they’re not going to see a lot of changes,” he said. “It’s going to perpetuate the kinds of policies we have now. It’s going to mean Ojai will stay the way it is now.”

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 401 S. Ventura St.