Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montecito commission approves setback modification for Latin Trust sports court at 901 Picacho Lane
Summary
The Montecito Planning Commission on Dec. 17 approved a setback modification allowing an 1,800-square-foot unlit sports court at 901 Picacho Lane to encroach into the front setback, finding the project exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15305; staff and the applicant cited a noise study and hillside siting to limit impacts.
The Montecito Planning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 17 to approve a setback modification that will allow a portion of an 1,800-square-foot unlit sports court to encroach into the front setback at 901 Picacho Lane.
Project planner Soren Kringle told commissioners the proposal, case 25MOD0004, would place the court as close as 16.5 feet from the right-of-way of Picacho Lane and that the Montecito Land Use and Development Code permits limited setback reductions. Kringle said the commission should find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under state CEQA Guidelines section 15305 and recommended approval subject to conditions in the staff report. "This modification will allow for the siting of a portion of an 1,800 square foot unlit sports court within the parcel's front setback areas along Picacho Lane," Kringle said during his presentation.
The applicant's landscape architect, Stacy Isaac, said the project team considered alternative locations outside the frontage setback but chose this site to reduce noise impacts by cutting the court into the existing hillside and by removing existing hardscape. Isaac said the team paid for a noise study that "confirmed that use of the court would not generate greater than 65 decibels at any of the property lines," and that neighbors were told the proposed location was less noise-intrusive than alternative siting higher on the slope. Isaac also said one of the two oak trees proposed for removal had been topped and that the project includes on-site replacement of the two oaks at a 1-to-1 ratio with 48-inch box specimens.
Commissioners had no public speakers during the hearing. After a brief opportunity for questions — one commissioner confirmed no neighbor comment letters had been submitted — a motion to "approve the addition of the sports court per the recommended actions of the staff" was made and seconded; the commission voted verbally in favor and the chair declared the motion unanimously approved.
Votes at a glance from the meeting • Cancel Jan. 21, 2026 hearing — motion approved by voice vote (chair announced "Unanimously approved"). • Approve minutes of Nov. 19, 2025 as amended — motion approved by voice vote. • Approve Latin Trust sports court modification (case 25MOD0004) — motion approved by voice vote; mover and seconder stated on the record but not named in the transcript excerpt.
What happens next The county's process requires the project to return to the Montecito BAR (Montecito Board/Advisory Review body referenced in the staff presentation) for preliminary and final approval prior to issuance of a land use permit, and the conditions of approval in staff Attachment B will apply.
