[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6473998,"mediaKeyId","5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb","parentId",5742769,"title","City unveils two‑year parks and recreation master‑plan work plan; council emphasizes outreach","audioSeconds",1890,"startMs",1920000,"endMs",3810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb&start=1920&end=3810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb/thumbnail_1920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473998/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/City-unveils-twoyear-parks-and-recreation-masterplan-work-plan-council-emphasizes-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473998-5e321839c37e22f386ea51702fccc4c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775371363&Signature=iCDGj74I31yaFFnQeVMb1p~7bK1joxA~HeXdk9jpqkslXHKaxXDB0Pb73KG2-ASS~TtqipEBVPBEUenuhkAtJEgHjshLHJotwaumj8cWkxlhix-lUzCuY6ofh1SaWTS3HdphPggIbj67Wie5AYWY6wBaf6IBmQSgV8DvPRWrP1~SBCg4OkZeoVU7QSHWJ069dIBwnAFFuGuEwUVz9V72pB0X9J0mBpkR~KXYtbGjGWVP6KKnOodFsvXOXSg7ifuoE6ocpZMcnqhQRSL-G2gZJK2O-L6sxFJHUh~g80Uqy5oDnFOXniNw0Rqx7nL9GNCfWsJrk1BgR8xYKEb9VTBN4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-09-09T17:39:14Z","article","City parks staff presented a two‑year work plan on Sept. 9 to develop a parks and recreation master plan that will inventory facilities, assess community needs and produce prioritized recommendations for future parks and program investments.

Jill Zachary, Parks and Recreation Director, introduced Bronwyn Bradbury, the department’s new master‑plan project manager, who described the plan’s scope: an inventory and assessment of the park system, a community needs assessment, a funding‑strategy analysis and an action plan tied to goals and potential funding sources. Bradbury said the drafting process will include a robust public‑engagement program with surveys, interviews, workshops and pop‑up events.

The draft timetable allocates about two years for the master‑plan development; staff said they had completed project initiation and the current inventory phase, then will move into evaluation, outreach and formulation of final recommendations.

Council and stakeholder input

Councilmembers offered suggestions for outreach and focus areas. Councilmember Jordan urged pop‑up outreach at high‑use parks such as Shoreline, La Mesa and Douglas Family Preserve and recommended attending city festivals and the farmer’s market to meet users who may not otherwise participate. Councilmember Sneddon praised the plan and suggested attention to downtown park access and cultural engagement with Chumash community members for historically significant sites.

Councilmember Bridle (Bridal in earlier transcript references) and other councilmembers encouraged emphasis on funding strategies and on ensuring program affordability. Councilmember Bridal also urged attention to swimming facilities and neighborhood park needs in rapidly growing parts of the city.

Staff emphasized systemwide planning

Bradbury noted that the master plan will look across 64 parks and open spaces, 18 community buildings and multiple recreation facilities to evaluate where the system can meet identified needs rather than planning park‑by‑park. Staff said the plan will support grant applications by documenting community priorities and analyzing economic impacts of park investments.

Public comment and next steps

Staff accepted public comment but had no speakers for the informational item. The council asked staff to return with the public‑participation plan and to begin outreach in spring 2026 while staging some early pop‑ups in late 2025 events. Bradbury and Zachary said they would proceed with the inventory phase and return to council as milestones are completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - September 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a two‑year work plan and public‑engagement strategy for a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan. Council members urged pop‑up outreach at major parks and events, attention to equity and Chumash engagement, and attention to access in rapidly growing neighborhoods.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474002,"Council approves $3.5 million loan to housing authority for 400 West Carrillo Street; residual‑receipts terms draw scrutiny",1026,492000,1518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb&start=492&end=1518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb/thumbnail_492000.jpg","/articles/6474002/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-approves-35-million-loan-to-housing-authority-for-400-West-Carrillo-Street-residualreceipts-terms-draw-scrutiny","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474002-54db4382f235c0f22a8898b55b0e6ee0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775371363&Signature=KSndH6Ch2h5vzJKeE7lW09Jwvy2k9e~EJhpfSKsDojWcob5UyZ4GEZTMr6k0WC72B0sJkJiAMAQf3fsNwlit8Z5AD0Jqn~dCGwQe9KLldADYXQQpkWU1i7a3uJoOHMjv1OFql~W3pDrzIdKAh~7e-RjyBxsgUQz6fxBeE-uM7Wz-B6tzWIqbnEHJ09zaBxa9vvd2tDQLXC5O0eGjheSGSmT-q2sSV0~DvmmzyRr9yPajrmi4ZvchsT0QPcKCpOHxaCO~7s739FNSC28J3R9Mk0nRqGd9Lz5s~KSd~3Av7-mEg4aGfSLeihYus4gngBbWwpTla3Q~stZn8WJWF9No5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Council on Sept. 9 adopted an ordinance approving a $3.5 million loan from the general fund to the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara for a project at 400 West Carrillo Street. The loan will be secured by a deed of trust and a 90‑year affordability covenant.

Council voted 6–1 to adopt the ordinance. The motion was moved by Councilmember Santa Maria and seconded by Councilmember Harmon; the council record did not specify the dissenting member by name.

Council questions and loan structure

Council discussion focused on the loan mechanism and the fiscal tradeoffs of using general‑fund dollars for housing subsidies. Councilmember Jordan, who said he would not block the project but raised concerns, warned that \"every dollar that leaves a general fund and goes to another entity ... is a sacrifice that the rest of the organization is making. That's a dollar that we don't get to spend on salaries, on programs, and on services.\" He urged future scrutiny of general‑fund commitments to housing.

Staff clarified loan terms during the discussion. The loan is structured as a residual‑receipts loan with a 3% interest rate and a 30‑year term; payments depend on project income and may vary over the loan term. Staff noted that while the loan principal is expected to be repaid, residual‑receipts structures have in some past cases resulted in reduced or forgiven repayments depending on project performance.

Project composition and affordability controls

Councilmember Knecht noted the project would create 63 rental apartments: seven restricted to low income households and 55 restricted to moderate income households, characterizing the development as \"a 100% affordable project.\" The approved ordinance also includes a 90‑year affordability control covenant recorded on the property to preserve affordability over the long term.

Next steps and caveats

With the ordinance adopted, the Housing Authority may proceed with project financing and development actions consistent with the deed of trust and covenant. Council members stressed the need to monitor loan performance and said future projects using residual‑receipts financing should be evaluated for impacts to the city general fund and departmental budgets.","The City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing a $3.5 million loan to the Housing Authority for development at 400 West Carrillo Street, imposing a deed of trust and a 90‑year affordability covenant; the vote was 6–1 after councilmembers discussed budgetary impacts and repayment uncertainty for residual‑receipts loans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474007,"Council directs staff to revise adaptive‑reuse ordinance, asks carve‑out for Central Business District inclusionary rule",3339,3411000,6750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb&start=3411&end=6750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742769-5d090974699fd84dfe7517c6e6f08ccb/thumbnail_3411000.jpg","/articles/6474007/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-directs-staff-to-revise-adaptivereuse-ordinance-asks-carveout-for-Central-Business-District-inclusionary-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474007-0fb3d65437ea39df996a1a41634f34ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775371363&Signature=b-CU1Eg2MYe-9YMEPC7yT4uw8BLYN8Ezdmyf5DxCKSoPks5BCJyv9hQYXMDoCrIhIiH3aKd~5z5Et-Z9Tcr0WJi~HIl5UAu7HYEeG0wQ4Ofl8aqROAQR9FeWGGJNVFfO4HbKNYNw1bsLAbUEis7NHHec5m22FRjS7el8m~cBfHGnEbyixpTfCs4gvHf9oRzOup7bivXxxnE02LklnD1b5ngQvUJ4seZPU7~UVxWqn09NEYsxjccyN46XOYqTxMmLcFh~t3aF4GTPdLzNpgiOlk2WnGNSguahCTjlqVyUnG3ywF1el2OKHKa5p5VfnVhgjT5Zf~tC5V6fC-Y~rFr5Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Council on Sept. 9 directed staff to return with a revised adaptive‑reuse ordinance that would exempt the Central Business District (CBD) from the city’s 10% inclusionary housing requirement and provide a recommended cap on the size of projects that would qualify for the carve‑out.

The motion, made by Councilmember Freeman and seconded by Councilmember Jordan, passed 5–2. Councilmembers Santa Maria and Sneddon voted no.

The proposed ordinance, presented by Dana Folk, long‑range project planner in the Community Development Department, would allow conversion of existing nonresidential buildings to housing across inland areas of the city where multiunit residential use is allowed and would give qualifying projects four by‑right incentives: no maximum residential density, relaxed open‑yard rules, adjusted vehicle‑parking requirements and setback flexibility. Staff said conversions must fit within an existing building shell, generally limit new hotel uses, and meet minimum unit sizes and inclusionary obligations unless a geographic exemption applies.

Why it matters: the ordinance is the city’s primary tool to encourage housing inside existing downtown and corridor buildings — spaces that commercial markets currently underuse. Proponents said the incentives and streamlined review can catalyze housing production and downtown revitalization; opponents warned that removing inclusionary requirements risks producing market‑rate units without affordable workforce housing.

Staff presentation and legal review

Dana Folk told council the ordinance implements Program 1 of the 2023–2031 Housing Element and is intended to speed conversions of older commercial or office buildings into housing. Folk said staff completed environmental review and determined the ordinance is exempt from further review under the CEQA Guidelines’ general rule (CEQA Guidelines §15061(b)(3)). The proposed municipal code change would add a new Section 30.1850.045 to Title 30 to govern adaptive reuse projects.

Folk described the principal incentives: elimination of a site maximum density in favor of an allowable maximum average unit size, modified open‑yard and parking rules, and a possible path to building‑permit review rather than discretionary land‑use hearings for projects that do not change exteriors. She said the Planning Commission recommended smaller average unit sizes than staff proposed; staff’s recommendation is a 1,200‑square‑foot maximum average for rental projects and 2,000 square feet for ownership projects.

Public comment and council debate

More than a dozen members of the public spoke during the item. Developers and downtown business advocates said the inclusionary obligation would deter conversions in financially thin downtown projects. Ben Romo (developer) told the council the downtown market is “the most complex, place to build,” and argued that “the financial margins are very, very thin on these projects.” Cody Sargent, representing the Coastal Housing Coalition, warned that “10% of zero units is still zero” if the requirement discourages conversions.

Housing advocates and community groups urged retaining the 10% moderate‑income requirement or at least a meaningful in‑lieu fee. Lisa Carlos, a Housing Authority commissioner, said: \"What doesn't make sense is eliminating our very modest inclusionary housing requirement. We're only asking for 10% affordability at the moderate income level.\" Anna Arcey of CAUSE and other speakers likewise urged keeping affordability requirements and ensuring any in‑lieu fee is large enough to fund housing.

Council members framed the issue as a balance between housing production and downtown economic revitalization. Councilmember Jordan said the downtown conversion program functions as an economic development tool as much as a housing initiative and urged flexibility to get projects moving. Councilmember Sneddon and Councilmember Santa Maria expressed concern about losing the inclusionary requirement and the long‑term implications for workforce housing.

Council action and next steps

Councilmember Freeman moved — and Councilmember Jordan seconded — a motion directing staff to return with an ordinance for introduction that (a) removes the CBD from the adaptive‑reuse inclusionary requirement, (b) includes a recommended project‑size cap for that exemption, (c) adopts staff’s recommended maximum average unit sizes (1,200 sq ft rental; 2,000 sq ft ownership) rather than the Planning Commission’s smaller sizes, and (d) asks staff to analyze ownership (for‑sale) inclusionary implications in its return package. The motion passed 5–2; Santa Maria and Sneddon dissented.

Staff told council the revised ordinance would be returned for introduction (a single reading) and, if introduced, later scheduled for adoption. Folk said the city’s inclusionary study (examining in‑lieu fee levels and feasibility) remains pending and will be part of follow‑up discussions.

Opposition and legal questions

Speakers and several council members flagged potential tradeoffs: developers argued that hotels can still be achieved via other processes without inclusionary obligations, reducing the incentive to choose housing unless the downtown rules are competitive; several council members worried that carving out the CBD now could be difficult to restore later. Staff cautioned there is some legal uncertainty about adding inclusionary requirements later, and directed the council that staff would provide analysis and potential ordinance language when they return.

The council directed staff to draft the revised ordinance for introduction and to include a recommended unit‑cap and the staff‑recommended average unit sizes. The item will return to council for introduction and, subsequently, adoption if the council votes to advance it.","After hours of public comment and debate, the Santa Barbara City Council voted 5–2 to direct staff to return with a revised adaptive‑reuse ordinance that removes the citywide inclusionary requirement in the Central Business District and proposes a unit‑cap; staff will also use its recommended maximum average unit sizes for rental and ownership.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City unveils two‑year parks and recreation master‑plan work plan; council emphasizes outreach

Council approves $3.5 million loan to housing authority for 400 West Carrillo Street; residual‑receipts terms draw scrutiny

Council directs staff to revise adaptive‑reuse ordinance, asks carve‑out for Central Business District inclusionary rule