Santa Cruz supervisors approve rezoning, PAD changes to allow 18 attached homes in Barrio de Tubac

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 15 approved three linked land‑use actions to allow construction of 18 attached single‑family homes in the Barrio de Tubac.

County planning staff introduced three related applications: a minor comprehensive plan amendment (case CP‑25‑1) to change 5.59 acres from medium‑density residential to high‑density residential; a rezoning (case REZ‑25‑1) of 2.75 acres from B‑2 (general business) to MF (multifamily); and an amendment to the Barrio de Tubac Planned Area Development (PAD‑25‑1) to revise development standards. Planning commissioners had held a public hearing in August and voted unanimously to recommend approval of all three items.

Developer Gary Brasher (WLB Group) told the board the frontage parcels along the I‑19 interchange historically drew intensive commercial proposals (fast food, storage, motels) that he judged incompatible with the residential character of the barrio. He said the proposal aims to create a softer residential entry into the…