Planning commission approves new single‑story residence at 502 S. Montgomery with conditions on creek setbacks, public access and cultural monitoring

The Ojai Planning Commission on April 2 approved a design review permit for work at 502 South Montgomery Street that will demolish the existing single‑story residence and replace it with a single‑story, 3,422‑square‑foot “modern ranch” home, a 518‑square‑foot detached garage (including two covered spaces) with a 505‑square‑foot accessory dwelling unit and a 1,560‑square‑foot pool.

The action matters because the property sits adjacent to a federally mapped Blue Line Creek and inside the city’s Village Mixed Use (VMU) zoning, triggering review by the commission for creek setbacks, tree protection and stormwater controls. The commission adopted the staff recommendation with additional conditions requiring public‑works review of the driveway access and language requiring stormwater capture be included in the landscaping/irrigation plan; the permit passed unanimously.

Brian Shermer, planning aide in the Community Development Department, presented the staff report and explained why the project required design review despite proposing a single‑story residence: “Because the subject property is designated as village mixed use . . . this application is being processed as a design review permit,” he said. Shermer told commissioners the proposed structures meet the VMU standards for setbacks, height and parking, and that the proposed development is set back 25 feet from the Blue Line Creek in…