MA’s Land Use March Meeting
Montecito Association held its Land Use monthly meeting March 5 via Zoom. Key issues on the table were the updates from the Rosewood Miramar Beach and the pedestrian paths in Montecito. The meeting was led by MA Land Use Chair Bill Babbitt.
First up was Executive VP, Development & Acquisitions Bryce Ross for Caruso, Inc. He presented updates on the development proposed for the Rosewood Miramar Beach. Ross explained, “This is our fourth time in presenting updates to the MA, and we are still in listening mode, open to feedback from our neighbors, and to find a good balance. Our website launched six weeks ago – https://themiramarinfo.com. On our website is real time updated information made available for anyone to get the latest info on what we are doing, share feedback, or request a meeting – we want to hear it. I also have my and Katie Mangin’s direct cell phones and emails for contact.
“We started this process for development a year ago, out of a need with Santa Barbara County for housing. As a significant employer of the area, we understood the need for housing, and for it in Montecito – we raised our hands. We want to work with our neighbors and also to make economic sense. We are open to constructive conversations and public feedback matters.”
He discussed the meetings held with MBAR, pointing out that, “The feedback we received from MBAR was that the project is a beautiful building, lush landscaping, great architecture, and so on. They wanted us to add open green space.”
He emphasized that the apartments to be built are for employees that work at the Miramar with the greatest need – the housekeepers, the cooks, the workers commuting from Ventura and Goleta. He showed via slides the current plan with the amendments requested as follows: the removal of the third floor of the building/reduced height; elimination of the Eucalyptus Lane driveway; added green space; fewer shops and the shops will remain interior, facing away from Eucalyptus and S. Jameson Lanes; the 16 affordable apartments for employees; a visual buffer adding extensive landscaping and mature trees; and parking on the west lot.
Babbitt led the Q&A. Residents attending the meeting and Land Use members asked about the number and location of parking, the final height of the building, what economic level are the housing units for, and are the units for a single person or families. Attending residents also asked for an increase in the frequency of updates mailed to the neighboring area residents, and requested that the build sequence be housing first and then the shops.
Ross replied stating that, “There are already four affordable housing units at the Miramar for workers and the company is renting homes in SB and Montecito for their employees. The current need is for 14 studios and two-family apartments. When the project is completed, they will have over 50% affordable housing units. We are the only project moving forward in Montecito with affordable housing included. A lot of people in the area do not want affordable housing in the community. There is the concept of the missing middle in affordable housing – never getting housing built for the moderate need people. Whatever we build meets the need of our employees; the cooks, landscapers and so forth. The apartments and retail shops cannot be uncoupled in development. Half the visits to the shops come from hotel guests and half from the community. The shops are very low foot traffic. Valet parking is being added to the west lot so we do not have cars coming in/out four times, so drive in and leave via Jameson. The parking is moved as requested.” He also arranged one-on-one phone meetings with people who had more concerns.
Next discussed was the pedestrian paths and community plan to make Montecito safer for pedestrian walking and the project being done by the Bucket Brigade. Mostafa Estaji from County of SB Public Works affirmed anyone with issues on the paths to contact public works, and gave his phone number (805) 568-3060, and email: mestaji@countyofsb.org.
Babbitt showed slides delineating the following points: In keeping with past plans, curbs and sidewalks shall not be constructed except in neighborhood commercial zones and multifamily residential zones. Paths that are not concrete come with erosion issues, and residential mailbox placement issues.
A Santa Rosa Lane resident brought up that the historic Montecito hedgerows are being affected by the paths, and why doesn’t the COSBPW put out bids for contractors instead of using the Bucket Brigade who he stated, “The Bucket Brigade is a 501(c)3 and our community gave them funding, and now they are pivoting to be a private contractor.” Estaji said the Bucket Brigade has good pricing and can cover more lane miles with the limited budget the department has. He said, “COSBPW can open it up to local contractors for bidding. These small projects are less than $60K and do not require formal bidding.” Babbitt mentioned the Land Use committee had the same concerns about the Bucket Brigade and found the organization is a contractor with insurance.
411: https://themiramarinfo.com
Bryce Ross: 310-422-9787;
Email: bross@caruso.com
Katie Mangin: 708-514-4756;
Email: kmangin@caruso.com
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