Tracy Lehr
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – People packed the Santa Barbara City Council Chambers and the overflow area to hear the final item on the agenda.
They arrived early to see the draft State Street Master Plan presentation by Stefanos Polyzoides of Moule & Polyzoides of Pasadena.
“The decisions that are made today will have importance for the next 70 years and the best ways to help cities grow is by taking advantage of positive actions that have led the place to its current level of prosperity and prominence,” said Polyzoides.
He studies Santa Barbara’s history and said it had limited vehicular traffic before e-retail and the failure of malls.
State Street Master Planner Tess Harris called the draft an opportunity to invest in downtown.
“Think about it as a pedestrian-oriented or people-first space and recognize with this design flexibility is in its nature,” said Harris.
Both agree the plan can be adapted and live on well past 30-50 years.
“If we decide that we want to have vehicles on the street and transit on the street and bikes on the street we can do that with this design, if we decide we don’t want to have any of those options we can also do that with the design, the design doesn’t change, it’s just the actual method of operation and how we are using the street and I think that is a really important element,” said Harris.
“This plan is one that expands the sidewalk and allows the street to really reinforce that civic and commercial and neighborhood feeling of being right n the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.”
Polyzoides’ extensive summary included block-by-block management, converting nearby one-way streets into two way streets, initiating a plan to enable in-fill housing and reducing the time it takes to issue retail licenses.
The cost per block would be in the $6-8 million range, with a total capitol investment between $48-64 million depending on the economy during the start and completion dates.
Grants, bonds, and transportation funds could help pay for it.
The firm’s design proposal and presentation are intended to be the framework for the revitalization of corridor.
Other elements include street design, landscaping that includes flowering trees such as Jacarandas, rolled 4-inch curbs, and economic analysis.
The plan is focused on the 400 to 1300 blocks of State Street.
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Miller said the draft gives businesses a sense of certainty that has been lacking.
Dozens of people spoke during public comment.
Attorney and resident Richard Lloyd said the draft allows the debate over cars to continue.
The plan recommended two-way traffic from 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., but the council did not approve of setting hours.
“Flexibility is key, which the consultants have recognized I think there’s lots of questions like how is it going to be paid for is it going to workout but what I think it is, is a significant move forward,” said Lloyd.
Karl Hutterer, Ph.D. was impressed by the attention to detail from flowering trees to housing.
“It is a generational project it is enormously important to the future of this city and I think it was one of the best presentations I’ve heard in years,” said Hutterer.
Jessica Johnson who recalls a friend being injured in a traffic accidents years ago is concerned about cars.
She agrees with Vision Zero supporters who don’t want traffic to return to lower State Street that has seen a reduction in accidents.
Richard Yates of Opal restaurant would like to see one-way traffic from the coast up State Street.
Yates believes that would help businesses thrive.
The entire council voted in favor of the draft, but in Mayor Rowse repeatedly voted against car-free elements.
The council also voted staff to give special attention to the 700-900 blocks near De La Guerra Plaza.
And they urged staff to push for affordable housing in the plan.
The city website allows anyone to review the plan at https://StateStreet.SantaBarbaraCA.gov
They will go to committees and commissions including the Historic Landmark Commission, Planning Commission and Access Advisory Committee.
The city council intends to vote on a final Master Plan in August.
If the timeline goes as planned, an engineering phase could being in early 2027.
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