Carpinteria holds CEQA scoping meeting for proposed Surfliner Inn; residents press concerns on parking, water, wildlife and noise

Carpinteria City planners and their consultant opened the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping process for the proposed Surfliner Inn on Linden Avenue, seeking public input on environmental issues to be studied in the draft environmental impact report (EIR).

Mindy Fogg, a planner with the Carpinteria Community Development Department, told the roughly two-hour meeting that the city’s role is to gather information and analyze impacts: "we are not decision makers nor are we the developer." Brian Ali, a consultant with Environmental Science Associates (ESA), said, "The purpose of CEQA is to inform decision makers and the public of a project's potential environmental effects." The city circulated a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for a 30-day comment period beginning May 29 and running through June 27 at 5 p.m., and staff said the draft EIR is expected this fall and will open a 45-day public review period.

Why it matters: the proposal would use two city-owned parcels that straddle the railroad tracks at 499 Linden Avenue to build a 36-room hotel with a manager’s unit, visitor center, café and a rooftop lounge and pool; reconfigure Parking Lot 3 (to support 46 spaces) and create Parking Lot 4 south of the tracks with 93 spaces, trail adjustments and new restrooms. Residents and local groups told staff the project could materially change the downtown beach neighborhood’s character and create safety, environmental and infrastructure impacts that must be fully analyzed in the EIR.

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