Tag archives: construction

Lots of Cones, but No Ice Cream
By Ernie Witham   |   July 11, 2023

I was at my computer looking at one of the local online news services when I spotted an exciting headline. “There’s no construction scheduled on Hollister Ave. today,” I yelled to my wife. Pat ran into the kitchen and grabbed the car keys. “To the waterfront for lunch and ice cream,” she said in a […]

Road Construction Roundup: 101 Construction for Montecito Starts Now, Goes Through 2026
By Sharon Byrne   |   June 20, 2023

At the Montecito Association board meeting this week, the 101 team presented on the Montecito construction for the freeway-widening project that started Monday, and will run, in phases, through 2026. The segment from San Ysidro to Olive Mill is funded, while the funding for the segment from San Ysidro to Romero Creek is to be […]

Roundabout Partially Open 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 30, 2023

A new traffic pattern was in effect last week at the intersection of Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, and Highway 101, marking a significant turning point in the construction of the Olive Mill Roundabout. On Wednesday, May 17, the roundabout was opened partially to traffic, while construction work continues on the […]

Montecito Segment of 101 Project Approved 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 27, 2022

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission unanimously approved the 101 project through Montecito at a hearing last week. “This is the most significant public works project we are going to see in our lifetime,” said Commissioner Laura Bridley. “I’m really proud of what it’s going to be when it’s built,” she said, adding a thank […]

Olive Mill Roundabout Kicks Off
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 15, 2022

On Friday, November 4, community leaders and elected officials celebrated the kick-off for the Olive Mill Roundabout project. Construction will begin late November and go through summer 2023.  The roundabout will improve traffic flow at the intersection at Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Olive Mill […]

Montecito’s Home Building Renaissance
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   October 25, 2022

We are experiencing a home remodel and new building renaissance in Montecito that I have not seen in my 20 years living here, nor in the 20 years prior when I would visit family in the area. Very few blocks are without construction of some sort. One thousand (give or take) new homeowners have bought […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 18, 2022

During community reports at this week’s MA meeting, Montecito Union School’s Anthony Ranii said the school’s largest fundraiser, the MUS Carnival, is slated for October 22. The fundraiser for the MUS Foundation raises funds to enhance the school’s academic, athletic, and arts programs; enrich the student experience with technology, curriculum, and improved classroom resources; and […]

Pre-Project Construction Starts Next Week
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 27, 2022

Starting next Monday, September 26, and for the following three weeks, drivers in Montecito will experience significant delay at the Olive Mill/Coast Village/N. Jameson intersection, as Montecito Sanitary District (MSD) works to relocate 90 feet of sewer main in preparation of the upcoming roundabout at the area. The project also includes manhole installations, manhole modifications, […]

Highway 101 at MPC
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 30, 2022

In a six-hour meeting last week, the Montecito Planning Commission (MPC) completed their review of the 101 Highway project through Montecito, sending their recommendations and comments to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission (SBPC). This was the final hearing in a series of three conceptual reviews at MPC. SBPC will consider the project at two […]

Construction Coming to Montecito
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 16, 2022

At a Montecito Association Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting last week, project reps from the Highway 101 team gave an update on the project as well as timelines for two parallel projects, one of which is slated to begin construction this fall. The meeting was in advance of a highly anticipated hearing next week […]

Upcoming Road Projects
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 12, 2022

At this month’s Montecito Association Land Use Committee meeting earlier this week, reps from several agencies shared their upcoming schedules related to road construction work in Montecito.  Last week bids were opened on the sewer main relocation at Olive Mill and San Ysidro, which is preliminary work in anticipation of the two roundabouts that are […]

Cold Spring Groundbreaking
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 31, 2022

Last week the Cold Spring School District celebrated its building project with an enthusiastic groundbreaking ceremony. “It brings me great joy to see the hard work and dedication from the past and current Board and Administration finally come to fruition. It has taken the District sixteen years to get to this point,” said superintendent Dr. […]

East Valley Road Water Main Replacement
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 26, 2022

The Montecito Water District will be replacing a 100-year-old stretch of pipeline on East Valley Road near Mount Carmel Church during the coming three to four weeks. This priority project will replace approximately 500 feet of water main that dates back to the 1920s.  The start date of the project is Monday, April 25, with […]

Building a Greater Sense of Place
By Reeve Woolpert   |   April 12, 2022

Not long ago, saying “I live in Summerland” would trigger a puzzled “where?” Then someone would mention the Big Yellow House. Had the restaurant then been empty and a shade of white as it is today, the landmark might have been the enormous LIQUOR sign looming over town. The next place to dog Summerland just […]

More 101 Design Details
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 5, 2022

Last week, Montecito Board of Architectural Review looked at several more design components of the 101 widening project through Montecito, potentially the last of a series of conceptual review meetings before the project comes back for preliminary approval once Caltrans’ application for the project is deemed complete by Santa Barbara County.  As we’ve reported, four […]

Cold Spring Project Moves Forward
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 8, 2022

At a special board meeting earlier this week, the Cold Spring School Board voted 4-1 to approve moving forward with a short-term loan to help fund the school’s upcoming and long-awaited expansion project. The acquisition of the loan – and the financial position of the school in general – has been the subject of some […]

MBAR Hears from 101 Team
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 8, 2022

Members of the Highway 101 widening team through Montecito were in front of the Montecito Board of Architectural Review last week for the second time, reviewing aesthetic features of the project related to fencing, landscaping, and lighting. The project, which will widen the freeway to three lanes in each direction between Sycamore Creek in the […]

MBAR Latest
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 22, 2022

The Montecito Board of Architectural Review has had a full docket the last few months, hearing over 17 Montecito projects last week at a regular meeting, just one week after needing to call a special meeting in order to consider seven other projects. The next two meetings are already booked with 13-14 projects each, while […]

Why the Montecito Traffic & Transportation Summit is Critical
By Sharon Byrne   |   November 2, 2021

The Montecito Association is hosting a Roads, Traffic, and Transportation Summit on November 3 at 3 pm via Zoom. We have invited all affected agencies to attend this meeting and are opening this to the public. The following agencies operate and serve the following jurisdictions within Montecito: —101 construction and management, Highways 144, and 192 […]

Why the Montecito Traffic & Transportation Summit is Critical
By Sharon Byrne   |   October 29, 2021

The Montecito Association is hosting a Roads, Traffic, and Transportation Summit on November 3 at 3 pm via Zoom. We have invited all affected agencies to attend this meeting and are opening this to the public. The following agencies operate and serve the following jurisdictions within Montecito: —101 construction and management, Highways 144, and 192 […]