Music Academy CUP Updates at Land Use Meeting

The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) December meeting was held Tuesday, December 3, in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the Land Use Committee members, MA ED Houghton Hyatt, President Doug Black, Music Academy of the West’s President and CEO Shauna Quill, presented along with her staff – CFO and VP of Administration Mimi Do and VP of Marketing and Communications Kerry Allen – as well as Montecito resident John Sanford, who stated he is the President of the Butterfly Beach Neighborhood Association.

Quill came with a PowerPoint presentation which outlined the 2004 and new 2024 Conditional Use Permits. It was well noted that the MAW already has received the approvals they need to complete their projects and move forward since the SB County Board of Supervisors meeting November 5, 2024. Cogent points she made were:

– Neighbors have a page on their website with all updates and also discounted performance tickets

– For Significant Life Events (SLEs) use, MAW is building that pricing now, and hopes by January 2025 to put it out to the community

The Music Academy’s updated CUP (Conditional Use Permit) amends its 2004 CUP to:

– Increase operational flexibility, while avoiding impacts to neighbors

– Provide additional employee housing with the conversion of the current retail space to two housing units, which they were to begin with: one three-bedroom house and one two-bedroom house. They are finishing up the paperwork on that next week. (“We’d love to add more housing but have no plans for it.”)

– 15 Significant Life Events of 175 attendees, carpool/shuttle if > 50 attendees

– Amplified Outdoor Spoken Voice 17 times per year

– New noise impact avoidance measures

– Add 25 Summer students, still housed at Westmont College

– Retain 50 permanent theater seats, remove 50 elsewhere

– New trip reduction measures

Next, Sanford talked about what the neighbors were observing for traffic flow at MAW and concerns over the now approved use of the property for life events such as weddings. He said, “We have nothing against the Music Academy. In 2004, weddings were not allowed and now they are. We have 69 out of 70 neighbors against it. Other Montecito CUPs do not have permission for weddings up through 10 pm with both indoor and outdoor facility use, with amplified voice and music. We want the count of attendees transparent to the neighbors. The MA has a history of reporting their own numbers. We asked for that transparency and the Board of Supervisors ignored us. There is no system of checks and balances. We want to be on the same page and work together.”

Quill rebutted with, “Our CUP doesn’t require us to report traffic. We do have to report attendance. We are implementing shuttles and carpools. There is a difference of opinion. The Board of Supervisors did spend time with both parties. We have an open-door policy. We take the stewardship of our property seriously; we are conscious of it because we want to share it with you.”

Johnson thanked the presenters, and they left the meeting. From there, Johnson, her board and Hyatt discussed what the Land Use Committee should do regarding the issues between the Music Academy and the neighbors. It was decided that open and transparent communication between both parties must continue. Johnson will present issues to Montecito Association Board at its December meeting for any further action.

411: www.montecitoassociation.org