The Santa Barbara City Planning Commission on Nov. 20 approved a coastal development permit, front‑setback and interior‑setback modifications to permit residential additions and a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) at 226 Oliver Road.

City assistant planner Jillian Fennessy told the commission the site is a 5,954‑square‑foot lot developed with a single‑story, single‑family residence in the appealable coastal zone and that staff recommended approving the permit and related modifications. "The project site is a 5,954 square foot lot developed with a single story, single family residence with an attached 2 car garage," Fennessy said during the staff presentation.

The proposal includes a 200‑square‑foot first‑floor addition, a modest second‑story addition, conversion of part of the existing garage into a 33‑square‑foot JADU and new driveway paving to accommodate replacement tandem parking. Fennessy said staff determined the project is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA sections 15301 and 15303 and asked commissioners to include both citations in their findings.

Architect Chris Cottrell, representing the applicant, summarized design changes and parking adjustments and addressed a landscaping detail. "There's a large hedge out in front. It's over 8 feet now... we've got on the plans to bring it down to 3 6," Cottrell said, describing the plan to reduce the hedge to 3 feet 6 inches for the first 10 feet of the parking area while retaining some screening farther back.

Commissioners questioned several conditions of approval. Planning staff clarified state law requires owner occupancy on‑site for a JADU; as staff put it, "the owner needs to live on‑site," whether in the primary residence or the JADU. The commission also debated a Public Works condition that would require dedication of a narrow strip of private property for a Coleman Avenue frontage improvement and submission of public‑works plans. Planning staff said transportation staff had advised the dedication remains necessary but that physical construction of the sidewalk need not occur immediately; commissioners agreed to delete the condition requiring immediate construction.

After deliberations the commission adopted a motion to approve the staff findings, the coastal development permit, the front and interior setback modifications and the CEQA findings to include sections 15301 and 15303, and to remove the Coleman Avenue public‑improvements requirement from the conditions. The motion was made by Commissioner Wisscomb and seconded by Vice Chair Boss; the roll call vote was unanimous in favor. The commission noted the decision is subject to a 10‑calendar‑day appeal period.

Next steps: the project will return to the Single Family Design Board for project design approval and final review if the Planning Commission's approval stands through the appeal period.