Planning commission certifies EIR, approves coastal permit for Los Patos underpass removal; two commissioners dissent

The Santa Barbara City Planning Commission on Nov. 6 certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), approved a coastal development permit and adopted a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Los Patos Underpass Removal Project, a scope of work that will remove the rail underpass and bridge elements, place new fill, reconfigure Los Patos Way into a cul‑de‑sac and replace track on fill, while maintaining rail operations during construction with a temporary shoofly track.

Commissioner DeLucio moved to certify the Final EIR, adopt findings of fact and a statement of overriding considerations, approve the coastal development permit and adopt the mitigation monitoring and reporting program; Commissioner Wisscomb seconded. The motion passed 4–2 (yes: DeLucio, Wisscomb, Peterson, Vice Chair Boss; no: Barnwell, Balke). The motion included a clarification to the conditions of approval that the temporary shoofly alignment extend to the Cabrillo bridge and that alternate off‑site tree planting follow the city’s established street tree approval process.

Why it matters: Staff told the commission the project responds to coordination with Caltrans’ Highway 101 reconfiguration and a request from Union Pacific Railroad to remove the underpass to avoid a continuing maintenance and public‑nuisance issue. The project is tied to the larger Cabrillo‑UPRR bridge work; the city has secured state Senate Bill 1 (SB1) funding for the corridor package and staff said construction funding for the associated Cabrillo work is in the roughly $30–40 million range.

EIR conclusions and mitigation: The Final EIR found biological and hazardous materials impacts would be less than significant with mitigation, but identified unavoidable significant impacts from removal of the historic structure (a potential structure of merit) and from unavoidable tree loss in the project area. Staff and consultants proposed and the commission adopted mitigation requiring:

• preconstruction nesting‑bird and wildlife surveys and best management practices during work;

• a tree replacement and protection plan with a minimum 1:1 replacement ratio and a two‑year monitoring program;

• archival recordation of the removed bridge and submission of archival‑quality documentation to the Santa Barbara Historical Museum and other repositories;

• preparation of an interpretive display, the content of which will be reviewed by the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC); and

• salvage and reuse of sandstone where physically feasible (steel belongs to Union Pacific and will not be reused by the city).

Staff noted some impacts are “significant and unavoidable” because the trees and the bridge fabric cannot be fully mitigated within the project footprint. HLC and the Architectural Board of Review reviewed the project and indicated support for the mitigation approach while pressing for a refined landscape and interpretive design.

Funding and schedule: Staff and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) said the corridor package that includes Cabrillo and associated work received SB1 funding; staff indicated construction award is anticipated to be advertised and awarded by June 2027, with a likely construction duration of about 18–24 months and project completion in the 2029–2030 timeframe depending on contractor schedule and final union/railroad coordination.

Concerns raised: Two commissioners voted against certification, expressing concern that the project relies on city resources to address an issue largely on or adjacent to Union Pacific right‑of‑way and questioning the city’s long‑term strategy for using the right‑of‑way and adjacent city property that could be repurposed for other public priorities such as housing. Commissioner Barnwell urged additional historical analysis of the adjacent roadway, which some longtime residents recall dating to the early 1900s; staff pointed to mitigation that includes archival documentation and HLC review of interpretive materials.

The commission’s action is appealable to the City Council and the decision carries requirements in the adopted mitigation monitoring program and the conditions of approval.