Staff hearing officer Tess Harris approves 53‑unit project at 335 South Milpas, retaining Tri County Produce

Staff Hearing Officer Tess Harris approved a coastal development permit, a tentative subdivision map and a CEQA streamlined determination under Section 15183 for a mixed‑use project at 335 South Milpas on April 15, 2026, subject to conditions including completion of a corrective action plan for site contamination and specific construction and parking requirements.

The project would retain and modify the existing Tri County Produce market and construct a four‑story residential building with 53 units, a roof deck and ground‑level parking. City staff and the applicant described the plan as a two‑lot subdivision that keeps the market on one lot and places the new residential building on the other. Tess Harris read findings on consistency with the city general plan, the local coastal program and the California Coastal Act before announcing approval and noting a 10‑calendar‑day appeal period.

"So with those findings, I will go ahead and approve the project," Harris said after a multihour staff presentation, applicant overview and public comment period. The decision is subject to conditions listed in the staff report, including completion of remediation overseen by the Central Coast Regional Water Board and Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services and…