202 West Ojai Avenue

Historic Resources Report Prepared & Available for Review

In November 2021, Community Development staff determined a Historic Resources Report was required for the proposed wireless facility for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act located at 202 W Ojai Avenue. The reason for this determination is because the subject site is listed in the California Register of Historic Resources as a contributor to the State designated Downtown Ojai Historic District. A request for proposals was posted shortly thereafter, and the Community Development Department, with input from the applicant, contracted with GPA Consulting for the preparation of a Historic Resources Report. A draft Historic Resources Report was submitted on April 12, 2022 by GPA Consulting and is currently being reviewed by staff and the applicant (Chris Doheny - Smartlink). The information is available for public review at City Hall - 401 S Ventura Street, Community Development Department, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm or by downloading the Draft Historic Resources Report (PDF).

City of Ojai Has Received Incomplete Items for a Wireless Facility Located at 202 W Ojai Avenue

On December 1, 2020 the Community Development Department provided an incomplete letter regarding a proposed rooftop wireless facility. The applicant (Smartlink) resubmitted additional information on June 21, 2021, and the Community Development Department Staff is currently reviewing the submitted information. The information is available for public review at City Hall – 401 S Ventura Street, Community Development Department, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm or by viewing the document folder.

November 20, 2020 City Received an Application for Cell Tower Installation at 202 West Ojai Avenue (AT&T Building)

On Friday, November 20, 2020, wireless representative, Chris Doheny, with Smart Link, submitted a Design Review Permit (DRP 20-004) and Conditional Use Permit (CUP 20-005) application to Community Development staff for the following Telecommunications project at 202 West Ojai Avenue (AT&T Building).

Project Description
AT&T proposes to build an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility consisting of a three sector array with three panel antennas per sector that is concealed behind FRP screening, designed to blend in with existing architecture and compliment the surrounding vicinity. All associated equipment will be located within the screened enclosure. AT&T will work with the city and the community to install a state-of-the-art fully concealed structure that will improve communications services for the residents and visitors in the Ojai area.

Project Objectives
A wireless carrier requires the installation of a cell site within a specified area to close a “significant gap in coverage.” Other criteria for selecting sites include the following:

  1. The radio signal must be of sufficient strength to achieve consistent, sustainable, and reliable service to customers at a level sufficient for outdoor, in-vehicle, and in-building penetration with good voice quality (Threshold, 15.85 DB).
  2. When nearby other sites become overloaded and more enhanced voice and data services are used (4G and other high-speed data services), signal contracts and a gap is created. With heavy use it is intensified due to the unique properties of digital radio transmissions.

In this specific case, AT&T’s radio-frequency engineers (RF) have identified a significant gap in coverage in the vicinity of Ojai Ave, and central downtown Ojai area. A photo simulation is viewable here.

Any further questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Community Development Manager at 805-646-5581 or by emailing Seibert.

August 2020, City Received Inquiry about Cell Tower Installation at 202 West Ojai Avenue (AT&T Building) - No Application at this Time

A wireless representative with Smart Link recently reached out to Community Development staff inquiring about the standards and process to potentially locate a rooftop telecommunications facility at 202 West Ojai Avenue (AT&T building). No application has been submitted, however a photometric simulation was included which is viewable here. Any further questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Community Development Manager at 805-646-5581 or by emailing Seibert.