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Planning Commission initiates coastal program amendment to allow new parking at Santa Barbara Airport
Summary
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission voted Jan. 8 to initiate a Local Coastal Program amendment and zoning rezone to permit additional parking adjacent to the terminal at Santa Barbara Airport, citing the need to replace distant 'Economy Lot' parking and to support future terminal expansion. Staff said environmental review is underway and expects to return in the fall.
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 8 to initiate a Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendment and a zoning map rezone to allow additional parking near the Santa Barbara Airport terminal.
Airport planner Jessica Metzger told commissioners the request asks that a roughly delineated area now zoned Airport Approach Operations (AAO) be rezoned to Airport Facilities (AF) to permit parking and surface airport support uses. “We would like to request this LCP and rezone amendment to further parking at the airport near it for future terminal expansions,” Metzger said during the presentation.
Metzger said the airport parcel is a single large site with two general land uses: major public/institutional (airfield, terminal, tenant spaces and admin areas) and recreational/open space (Goleta Slough and associated wetlands). She told the commission the site includes three existing hangars (currently vacant) and underutilized open space where the airport proposes to add parking to reduce reliance on the Economy Lot on Fairview in Hollister, a shuttle-served lot about 15 minutes away.
Metzger said environmental review is at an information-gathering stage and that staff will complete full environmental review when the coastal development permit and formal zoning map amendment application return to the commission. She described planning and permitting steps: the planning commission makes a recommendation on the zoning map amendment to the City Council, and City Council refers the LCP amendment to the Coastal Commission for certification.
Commissioners pressed staff on details. Commissioner Barnwell asked about public access and a long‑proposed viewing platform near the slough; Metzger said such site issues would be examined as part of the formal application and environmental review. Commissioner DeLucio asked whether the new parking will be surface or structured; Metzger said the proposal now is for a surface lot with the city’s master plan studying a potential parking garage as a long‑term (20‑year) possibility. When asked about capacity, Metzger estimated that combining the two proposed sites would provide roughly the same capacity as the Economy Lot—about 300 spaces.
Commissioner DeLucio cited an ACIP reference to a $6,000,000 cost for the long‑term parking lot; Metzger said she did not have budget numbers at hand and would include ACIP/cost figures in the coastal development permit materials.
After discussion, Commissioner Wisscomb moved to initiate the LCP amendment and rezone (AAO/CZ to A/F/CZ) so the project may advance to design review and environmental review; Commissioner Barnwell seconded. The roll call vote was unanimous. The action is appealable for 10 calendar days.
Next steps: staff said it will complete parking-lot design (about two months), present to the Architectural Board of Review, continue internal environmental review, and return to the Planning Commission in the fall with the coastal development permit and formal zoning amendment packet.
