Tag archives: Accessory Dwelling Units

SB9 is Finally Here. What Can City and County Do About It?
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 11, 2022

Senate Bill 9 (aka SB9), which we’ve been reporting on since early 2021, goes into effect this week, with local governments across California scrambling to implement ordinances to attempt to protect, as much as possible, single-family zoning in residential neighborhoods.   SB9 was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2021 and became effective January […]

California Enacts Legislation to End Single Family Zoning
By Sharon Byrne   |   September 28, 2021

Canada is holding Parliamentary elections, and the fate of President Trudeau will be decided. Trudeau called the election to capitalize on the liberal government’s handling of the pandemic. But the big issue Canadians are upset about is housing. Trudeau pledged to ban foreign investment in Canadian homes for two years and end the process of […]

Fire Smoke Drifting In; Housing Bills Facing Opposition
By Sharon Byrne   |   August 31, 2021

In the past few weeks, you may have noticed a smoke smell in the air and greyer skies. That’s wildfire smoke drift coming into the area. If you watch the Purple Air site (purpleair.com), you can zoom in or out to monitor air quality conditions in our area and across the state. Our Air Pollution […]

Housing Bills Facing Serious Heat
By Sharon Byrne   |   August 19, 2021

Turning a corner is both a huge endeavor, and a welcome relief. We may have turned the corner on the dreaded Senate Bills 9 and 10. A little recap: The bills have seen a third and fourth time, respectively, through the legislature. Former Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson single-handedly torpedoed SB-10’s predecessor, put forth by San Francisco […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 17, 2021

It was a meaty agenda at this month’s Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting, which featured updates on the Highway 101 expansion through Montecito, the beginning of Smart Meter technology at Montecito Water District, and updates on proposed state housing bills that could have a significant effect on Montecito.  Kirsten Ayars with the 101 widening […]

Many Priorities, One Team — US!
By Sharon Byrne   |   June 3, 2021

Last week, we helped three Santa Barbara City Councilmembers host a very important community conversation on the California Housing Legislation with our state legislators Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett. You know we’ve been working on this closely with our former State Senator, Hannah-Beth Jackson. You can watch the Town Hall at our website: […]

Special-Interest Groups Negatively Impacting Single-Family Neighborhoods and Affordable Housing
By Sharon Byrne   |   April 29, 2021

We attended the Senate Housing Committee last week to provide input on two key bills: Senate Bills 9 and 765.  Our unexpected gain: insight into who’s calling the shots at the state. Hint: it’s not you.  Senator Toni Atkins (San Diego) introduced the revised SB-9. It will allow four units on a single-family lot, newly […]

Time to Break Up the Telecom Ring
By Montecito Journal   |   April 29, 2021

On April 8, the telecom industry, in the person of Crown Castle Rep. Jerry Ambrose, attempted to pull the wool over the Montecito Architectural Board of Review. He told them he needed to put a new cell antenna on a pole at 75 Eucalyptus Lane. The reason? “Capacity gap.”  Yet, if you take a walk […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 22, 2021

At this month’s Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, April 13, executive director Sharon Byrne gave an update on several housing bills at the State level which the Association is watching; Byrne wrote about the issue in last week’s Montecito Journal.  The MA has hired former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson as a legislative […]

Women Recognized by CSS and MUS
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 8, 2021

Montecito school superintendents Dr. Amy Alzina, Superintendent of Cold Spring School District, and Dr. Anthony Ranii, Superintendent of Montecito Union School District, recognize the leadership of three outstanding women leaders in the local community in honor of Women’s History Month, including Montecito Association Executive Director Sharon Byrne. In addition to her work with Montecito Association, […]

New ADU Revisions
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 21, 2021

Santa Barbara County Long Range Planning Staff is once again hard at work updating local ordinances pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that comply with state laws. We’ve been reporting on ADU laws since 2017, when Assembly Bill 2299 and Senate Bill 1069 reduced barriers, streamlined the approval process, and expanded the capacity to accommodate […]

The Year in Review 2018
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 27, 2018

It is more than obvious that 2018 was a pivotal year for Montecito and its residents. The first week of the year, we were recovering from the Thomas Fire, which weeks earlier had suffocated Montecito and Santa Barbara in smoke and ash while scorching nearly 282,000 acres from Ventura to Santa Barbara, including ten structures […]

County Approves ADU Amendments
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 6, 2018

Next week, amendments to the County Land Use and Development Code, Montecito Land Use and Development Code, and the Coastal Zoning Ordinance to revise existing development standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) will go into effect; the amendments were approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in August. Because the County had yet […]

Land Use Committee Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 9, 2018

Next week, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) will consider adopting amendments to County land use development codes regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Planning and Development staff has prepared final-draft proposed ADU ordinance amendments based on direction and comments from the BOS, County Planning Commission, Montecito Planning Commission, and the public in the last year and-a-half. […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 12, 2018

At this month’s Montecito Association (MA) Board meeting, Montecito Union School superintendent Dr. Anthony Ranii gave thanks to the community for the support the school has received following the January 9 debris flow. Earlier this week, the school held a special event, “A Night of Heroes”, to personally thank the people and groups who helped […]

Montecito’s Year in Review 2017
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 4, 2018

As another year passes, we reflect on notable events in the Montecito community. From California’s largest wildfire, progress on development and new businesses, school happenings, retirements, and more, 2017 was a busy year in Montecito. While far from all-inclusive, here is a snapshot of our community’s happenings in 2017.  Thomas Fire   Without a doubt, […]