Lighted Crosswalks Coming to San Ysidro Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 24, 2022

Three existing crosswalks on San Ysidro Road will soon be outfitted with flashing lights, thanks in part to a grant from the State of California. San Ysidro Road at Manning Park, Mimosa, and Sinaloa will be outfitted with the new pedestrian-activated flashing lights in June, according to Public Works traffic engineer Gary Smart. “We don’t […]

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 […]

 

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Randall Road Debris Basin Moves Forward
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 22, 2022

This Saturday, March 19, Santa Barbara County Flood Control will take acquisition of 630 Randall Road, the final one-acre property to be acquired in which to build the Randall Road Debris Basin. After a lengthy delay, a recent ruling by the Ventura County Superior Court has given Flood Control the green light to continue building […]

Pursuing Sound Walls
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 15, 2022

On February 3, we learned in a public meeting the Montecito segment of the 101 project would no longer have sound walls. The reason was hydraulic modeling that showed significant flood water rise in a major weather event. This was a major shock to the community. We’ve been looking at the project in our Land […]

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 […]

No Sounds Walls in Montecito
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 15, 2022

Last week at a well-attended Montecito community meeting regarding the 101 freeway widening project through Montecito, reps from the project reported that sound walls that had been proposed in the Montecito portion have been removed due to flooding concerns.  The project is in initial planning review with the County of Santa Barbara as part of […]

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  • Parklets To Remain Until End of 2023
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 1, 2022

    The Santa Barbara City Council has adopted an ordinance that will provide an additional 22 months, until December 31, 2023, for businesses within city limits –including on Coast Village Road – to operate expanded outdoor business facilities and parklets. The ordinance also authorizes the continued closure of downtown State Street to vehicles while regulatory changes […]

    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 […]

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    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 […]

    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 […]

    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 […]

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