Planning commission initiates study to rezone Chapala Street site to allow funeral parlor

The Santa Barbara City Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Jan. 16 to initiate a zoning map and zoning ordinance amendment to study changing the zoning for 2020 Chapala Street from Office Restricted to Commercial General, a step that would allow a funeral parlor use at the site to be analyzed in a formal planning application.

Staff presented the request as an initiation only, not an approval. Planning staff said the site currently hosts McDermott Crockett Mortuary, has maintained business licenses at that location since 2011, and includes a single‑story church building with a 17‑space parking lot behind it. Barbara Buckhart, senior planner, told commissioners the requested rezone would return the parcel to a more permissive commercial designation consistent with the general plan and that residential and community assembly uses would remain allowed under the Commercial General zone. Buckhart said the initiation itself is exempt from CEQA under the informational‑collection provision (CEQA Guideline section 15306), and that any subsequent environmental review would occur before city council action.

Jennifer Parks, the mortuary manager speaking for the applicant (owner Heidi Jones was absent due to illness), said the business has operated at the site for many years and is pursuing the rezoning to bring the business into formal compliance. Parks said the mortuary currently employs valet service “when necessary” and is exploring off‑site parking agreements.

Public commenters said parking is a concern. William Rogers, a nearby resident, urged the commission to consider neighborhood parking impacts. Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about parking and consolidation of other mortuary facilities: Parks confirmed the applicant intends to cease operations at the Milpas/Canemadillo facility if the Chapala site is authorized to consolidate services.

Commissioners said parking would be examined in detail when the formal application is processed. Commissioner Wisscomb moved to initiate the rezone; the motion passed on a roll call vote with Commissioners Peterson, Barnwell, Wisscomb, DeLucio, Vice Chair Boss and Chair Wardlow voting yes. Staff will process a formal planning application, prepare a staff report addressing parking and other development standards, and return the item to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation to City Council. City Council would then hold its own hearing to approve, revise or deny the rezone.

The initiation does not authorize any change in use or issuance of permits; it only authorizes staff to study the proposed rezoning and prepare the environmental review and materials needed for public hearings.