Historic Landmarks Commission reviews draft preapproved outdoor-dining furniture for El Pueblo Viejo

The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission spent much of its May 7 meeting on a staff-backed proposal to publish preapproved outdoor-dining furniture options for El Pueblo Viejo (EPV), aimed at making it faster for restaurants and cafes to set up sidewalks and patios without separate Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) review.

Staff and members of the State Street Interim Working Group described a market survey of tables, chairs, umbrellas, planters and small stanchions and asked the commission to approve the list as guidance for property and business owners. Tess Harris, State Street master planner, told the commission the short-term action plan adopted by the City Council in September 2024 included standardizing dining furniture and getting HLC sign-off on preapproved options. Staff said the intent is to reduce repeated review workload for businesses while keeping EPV’s character.

Commissioners discussed materials, color restrictions, accessibility…