101 Highway Updates, New Butterfly Beach Stairs and Swim Platforms

The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) May meeting was held at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by LUC Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. 

Attendees were Steven Amerikaner,the newly appointedMontecito Planning Commission Chair; SBC Transportation Deputy Director Mostafa Estaji, Aida Thau representing First District SBC Supervisor Roy Lee; Megan Orloff,EVP Montecito Bank & Trust and former Montecito Association Board President; Sara Tyberg, Michael Gianino, MA Administrator Janet Casey;MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt; and LUC members.

The 101 Highway Construction update was presented by Kirsten Ayers, PR representative for the project,with SBCAG Transportation Projects Manager Fred Luna and Joe Arnold from Caltrans. Ayers stated that five of the eight project areas are “completed” – Carpinteria, Summerland, Santa Claus Lane Bikeway, San Ysidro roundabout, Padaro Lane segment except landscaping. Still left to do is Montecito and Santa Barbara.

Key points from her presentation:

-Padaro Lane: fixed the bridges, added a lane, updated parking, beach planking to connect with the Santa Claus Lane project; drainage and rumble strip are to be done. 

-The 101 has a median planter in process which affects lane closures.

-Summerland: fully complete, new on/off-ramps from the slow lane which is safer. 

-Montecito: under construction since 2023; end of June northbound will open up with new on/off-ramps, drainage, and bridges, will open up San Ysidro ramp northbound and on-ramp at Hermosillo Lane. Montecito is the most physically restricted due to land. When the 101 was first built, it was not built for speeds of 65 mph or greater. All the bridges’ center columns must be protected while construction going on. Southbound lanes will divide in mid-July to summer 2026, and southbound off ramps will close consecutively. 

-Southbound San Ysidro Rd ramp to close July 2025 to fall 2025. 

-Spring Rd/Olive Mill Rd off-ramp closed till next year. 

-Posilipo Lane southbound ramp closed 2024- spring 2026. 

-Olive Mill to Hermosillo Rd northbound off ramp and building the south bound on-ramp at Cabrillo.

-First responders and police have special access despite closed areas for traffic. 

– SB segment: 2026 to 2028.

– Due to the amount of work impacting local businesses, there will be a lot of community outreach meetings.

– SBCAG is working with the SB County for funding.

– All the on/off-ramps are being built to modern standards, updated from the 1950s.

Johnson inquired about funding and the congestion of traffic the plans will cause, expressing concern over the possibility of accidents, especially in the winter months. Ayers answered, “The project uses local traffic patterns, we study the traffic patterns and work with the City of SB, we look at all of that.” Luna added, “We look at every stage and analyze traffic patterns working with the City of SB. For funding, we went to Caltrans – who manages and implements many SB1 [Senate Bill 1] transportation project funds, we got funding from SHOP [State Highway Operation and Protection Program], Measure 8, other grants and federal funding.”

Thau brought up the impact of the closed ramp near the Biltmore and Miramar taking too long to complete. Ayers said, “These issues were brought up at Architectural Board Review hearings on the Highway 101 project, and you should attend them.”

Ty Warner’s Four Seasons Biltmore updates were provided by Johnson who said she had been talking with Chip Wulbrandt the project’s attorney, Mark Lloyd, and Sean Lavelle. She said, “Ty Warner is working on the beach access stairs and will be doing the maintenance. The swim platforms were delayed by the Coastal Commission, and SBC First District Supervisor Roy Lee worked with the Coastal Commission to move it forward for the summer. The full project is moving forward as planned using quality materials. They are on schedule to meet their anniversary.”

Thau corrected that, stating, “Roy Lee worked with the Coastal Commission for the swim platforms, and at their upcoming June meeting we hope it will be approved so the swim platforms will be out for July 4^th.”