Chabad Occupancy Issue Back Before Supervisors

With an effort at mediation scrapped before it could begin, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will continue its deliberations on an Oak Park synagogue’s request to expand its occupancy that has triggered an outcry from some residential neighbors.

In March, the board agreed with Supervisor Linda Park’s request to put the issue on hold so she could mediate between Chabad of Oak Park and residents to arrive at a cap for attendees. Parks did not return a call for comment Monday.

But the county’s legal counsel put the breaks on the proposed talks because of the potential conflict between the roles of mediator and decision maker.

“It’s just my view of it is that a member of the Board of Supervisors should not act as the mediator because it might compromise their position as a decision maker in the hearing, because it’s a hearing on a specific request for a conditional use permit,” County Counsel Leroy Smith said.

Chabad of Oak Park officials have sought to increase its occupancy from 70 people to 145 during weekly services and holidays.

The county Planning Commission recommended that the current occupancy remain unchanged for weekly services and holidays. The commission also recommended a 10-year permit for Chabad.

The synagogue has appealed the decision but county planning officials are recommending the board deny the request. Today’s hearing marks Chabad’s fourth attempt at having its permit revised.

Both sides — residents who are concerned about noise, traffic and crowding and Chabad officials who have had to turn away worshippers because of occupancy limits — have been open to mediation.

But on Monday, neighbor Lenore Lewis said she does not know what to expect when the issue goes before supervisors.

“From what had transpired, the neighbors all generally felt we had compromised a great deal. The county had offered a great deal in this conditional use permit,” Lewis said. “We were very hopeful and very disappointed it didn’t pan out.”

Rabbi Yisroel Levine, the Chabad’s director, said he was willing to go through mediation and had suggested hiring a third-party mediator.

The county declined to participate and the Chabad’s attorney, Phil Dunn, said there was no point to mediation without the county participating.

Levine said Chabad officials have different numbers in mind for the occupancy but they are not looking specifically for a number cap that would apply every week. Instead, the Chabad wants flexibility to accommodate worshippers based on the event.

“There might be some other compromise, where one week we have one number and other weeks where we are not really going over a number,” he said. “It’s not just about numbers, it’s about a spirit. We want the neighbors to understand we want to address their need.”