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 […]

Gatehouse Approved
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 25, 2022

The proposed 24-hour gatehouse at the entrance of Edgecliff Lane was approved at Montecito Board of Architectural Review last week, after gaining unanimous approval by the Montecito Planning Commission in December. The location of the gatehouse is near the entrance to Hammond’s Beach at the end of Eucalyptus Lane, and will be built adjacent to […]

 

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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 […]

Redistricting Will Impact Montecito
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   October 5, 2021

The Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission, which is comprised of 11 commissioners representing all five supervisorial districts in Santa Barbara County, is seeking input from the public regarding redrawing our district map, which will be in place for the next 10 years. “We’ve been working on this for over a year, and we are now at […]

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 […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 21, 2021

At this month’s Montecito Association Board Meeting, the board heard from Jon Frye of Santa Barbara County Flood Control, who gave a photographic update on the Randall Road Debris Basin, which began construction in May.  Following the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow in 2018, the debris basin project was proposed along Randall Road in […]

Gas-Powered Generators Being Installed; 101 Widening to be Reviewed
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   September 14, 2021

At this month’s Montecito Association Land Use & Transportation Committee meeting, the group heard from Carla Leal of Cox Communications, who reported on new gas-powered generators being installed in Montecito. The project, which aims to install 49 generators throughout the Montecito area, stemmed from a decision issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier […]

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  • Connecting the Community: Hot Springs Neighborhood Trail Complete
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 31, 2021

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this week on the newly completed Hot Springs Neighborhood Trail, which connects Olive Mill Road from Casa Dorinda to East Valley Road.  Since the debris flow in January 2018, the Bucket Brigade, led by Abe Powell and a committed team, has worked to restore many areas of the community, and […]

    Reflect. Restore. And Revival is Coming.
    By Nick Masuda   |   July 1, 2021

    La Casa de Maria has stayed dormant since the Montecito Debris Flow. The organization has chosen to learn more about the land before redeveloping. More than three years later, it has a plan and a potential reopening date. Cindy Faith Swain peeks through a chain-linked fence that was once completely unnecessary, as separation from San Ysidro […]

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    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 […]

    Butterfly Pedestrian Undercrossing Project
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 10, 2021

    Earlier this week, the Montecito Association Land Use and Transportation Committee heard from Caltrans reps regarding a new project that will bring the pedestrian freeway undercrossing at Butterfly Lane up to ADA compliance. The project will begin in late fall of this year, through late spring 2022, and it will cause the closure of the […]

    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: […]

    Freeway Projects Accelerated
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 3, 2021

    At a kick-off celebration on May 24, community leaders and stakeholders gathered under the Santa Claus Lane underpass of Highway 101 to mark the next phase of the freeway widening, called the Padaro Project, which includes the construction of seven- and-a-half miles of congestion-relief work between Carpinteria and Summerland. The project cost is approximately $200 […]

    Montecito Association Meets
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 20, 2021

    Earlier this week, the Montecito Association Board of Directors was shown preliminary renderings of the design of the widening of the 101 Freeway, which will eventually widen the freeway to three lanes in each direction between Sycamore Creek in the city of Santa Barbara up to Romero Creek in Montecito.  Design engineer Zach Siviglia showed […]

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