Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goleta Council initiates amendment to Cabrillo Business Park specific plan to remove airport safety corridor
Summary
The Goleta City Council voted unanimously to initiate study of a specific plan amendment that would remove a 300-foot-wide airport safety approach corridor from the Cabrillo Business Park specific plan and adopt several administrative changes to streamline project review.
The Goleta City Council on Oct. 7 voted unanimously to initiate a specific plan amendment to the Cabrillo Business Park (CBP) specific plan that would remove a 300-foot-wide airport safety approach corridor as depicted in figures CBP‑2, 3, 8 and 9, and to study several administrative, staff‑recommended changes to how the plan is implemented.
City Senior Planner Brian Hatfield told the council the proposed amendment would align the specific plan’s airport safety references with the current general plan safety element and the Santa Barbara Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, removing the corridor west of Coromar Drive that currently covers Lot 22. He said staff’s additional edits would streamline project review and add a “substantial conformity” process for small changes to prior approvals.
Why it matters: If the council ultimately approves the amendment after study and required hearings, it would change the development constraints for multiple parcels inside the 92‑acre business park, including a three‑acre Lot 22 that contains a 43,390‑square‑foot research and development/office building. Proponents said the change would make the specific plan internally consistent with the general plan and airport land‑use policies; opponents could raise safety or compatibility concerns in subsequent public hearings.
During the public hearing Troy White of TUV Land Plan Development, who said he represents the applicant, told the council the applicant seeks only the corridor removal and that the proposed edits would make the specific plan comport with policies the city has already adopted in other documents.
Councilmember questions focused on public engagement and how the proposed changes would affect property owners with existing development agreements. Hatfield and other staff said they had met with the applicant and that initial outreach to property owners had occurred; they stressed that initiation is only the first step and does not approve any final changes.
The council adopted a resolution initiating study of the item and finding the initiation exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. The motion recorded the following vote: Council member Reyes Martin — aye; Council member Kyriaco — aye; Council member Smith — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kasdan — aye; Mayor Paula Perotti — aye.
What happens next: Initiation opens a review process that may include environmental review, public outreach, planning commission hearings and subsequent council decisions. Staff said any actual amendment would apply to all parcels inside the CBP and that administrative changes proposed by staff are intended to reduce duplicative review steps.
Notes: The council’s initiation clarifies only that staff will study the requested and staff‑recommended edits; it does not grant final entitlements. The related case number listed during the meeting is 25‑0001‑SP.
