Staff Hearing Officer - September 16, 2026

The City of Santa Barbara Staff Hearing Officer meeting on September 16, 2026, focused primarily on a development proposal at 1080 Coast Village Road. The project involves converting an existing 1,296 sq ft retail building into a restaurant with an ancillary market, including a 250 sq ft addition for storage and restrooms, interior tenant improvements, and reconfiguration of parking. Key procurement-related discussions included a front setback modification to allow parking within the required 10-foot front setback and a coastal development permit for construction within the city's coastal zone. The project requires six parking spaces, one more than currently exists, and the proposal includes adding one additional parking space on site to avoid worsening the legal non-conforming parking status. The staff hearing officer reviewed environmental compliance under CEQA Section 15183 and found the project consistent with the 2011 General Plan and certified EIR. The project will proceed to the Architectural Board of Review for design approvals. The hearing officer approved the coastal development permit and setback modification, subject to conditions, noting the project’s consistency with zoning, coastal policies, and parking requirements. Public comments raised concerns about parking availability, which were addressed by the applicant and staff. The decision may be appealed to the Planning Commission within 10 days.