Ojai council approves development management agreement for 30-unit Cabin Village at former public works yard

The Ojai City Council on Tuesday approved a development management agreement and design review permit for the Cabin Village, a 30‑unit permanent supportive housing project at 408 South Signal Street, and authorized the city manager to execute the contract with nonprofit developer Dignity Moves.

City Community Development Director Lucas Seibert told the council the item before the body was “the Cabin Village, which is a permanent supportive housing project located at 408 South Signal Street,” and described staff recommendations to (1) allow the project at the city’s lower public works yard, (2) adopt a resolution finding CEQA exemptions and approving a sole‑source development management agreement with Dignity Moves, and (3) approve design review permit DRP 24‑006 and allow the city manager to sign the DMA.

The project’s construction budget in the agreement is capped at $9,500,000, with a $500,000 management fee included; under the proposed schedule Dignity Moves would receive an initial draw of $5,900,000 and staff would approve invoices before additional payments are released. Joanne Price, co‑founder and chief real estate officer for Dignity Moves, said the nonprofit focuses on rapid‑deployed permanent supportive housing and emphasized lower per‑unit costs…