The County of Santa Barbara Planning and Development Department (P&D) is soliciting comments on the adequacy and completeness of the environmental document prepared for the proposed renovation, enhancement, and expansion of the Montecito YMCA, located at 591 Santa Rosa Lane. The YMCA is seeking to revise its Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to update the Montecito […]
Several of the iconic eucalyptus trees along lower Park Lane in Montecito have been removed after at least three of the non-native trees have fallen, causing damage to heritage oak trees and a nearby home. We’ve received several letters asking us about the tree removal and the effect on the aesthetics of the picturesque lane. […]
After a two-year public/private collaboration and with the help of hundreds of donors, the Montecito Community Foundation (MCF) is pleased to announce the impending completion of Montecito’s Triangle Restoration Project: the rejuvenation of the corner of Hot Springs and Olive Mill roads. In a few short weeks, “The Triangle” will once again be a beautiful […]
On nearly the same day that she opened her beloved shop 30 years ago on State Street, Rooms & Gardens owner Jami Voulgaris is starting a new chapter in Montecito. Rooms & Gardens made its official debut over the weekend with a friends and family event, opening the doors for business on May 8. “When […]
Several neighbors living by the Music Academy have filed appeals to the Montecito Planning Commission’s approval of the Academy’s proposal to revise its Conditional Use Permit. Last month, the MPC voted 3-1 (with Commissioner Sandy Stahl dissenting) to approve the proposed revisions, which include changes to events at the Academy’s property, located on Fairway Road […]
The Montecito Association’s Land Use & Transportation Committee met on Tuesday to discuss a number of items, including the permitting process currently in progress for four automated license plate readers in Montecito. The 13-ft readers are to be located at 129 Sheffield Drive, 104 San Ysidro Road, 385 San Ysidro Road, and 191 La Vereda […]
This Saturday, May 6, two dogs – both two-years-old – are available for adoption and will be available to meet and greet at George Pet Shop in Montecito Country Mart. Toot and Puddles are bonded sisters who are dog-and-people-friendly, and are searching for their new owners, according to reps from Shadow’s Fund, the rescue organization […]
On the heels of receiving approval of changes to operations at the Coral Casino by the Montecito Planning Commission – and subsequent appeals to those changes from five Coral Casino club members – Biltmore and Coral Casino owner Ty Warner’s team was in front of the Montecito Board of Architectural Review last week, asking for […]
Santa Barbara County’s Search & Rescue team’s highly-trained volunteers have responded to several incidents this month. On Sunday, April 16, at around 6 pm, the Search & Rescue team responded along with AMR and County Fire to the Lizard’s Mouth area following report of a fallen rock climber with two ankle fractures. A member of […]
Shortly before press time last week, we got word that Coral Casino owner Ty Warner’s attempts to amend the club’s development plan were appealed. The appeal was filed by a longtime member of the Coral Casino, who wrote in her appeal that she is interested in “fair treatment of current laws on the books.” The […]
Also happening at the Coral Casino, owner Ty Warner has announced the onboarding of General Manager, David Conforti, CCM, PGA, who will oversee operations at the historic club. As one of a few dozen club professionals in the world who has both a Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation from the Club Management Association of America […]
The County is seeking public involvement in a survey to help enhance emergency response plans and preparedness in local areas. The purpose of the survey is to understand constraints and behavior during emergencies such as wildfires, floods, chemical spills, and other catastrophic events. The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will directly […]
1/9 Debris Flow survivor Kim Cantin’s new memoir, Where Yellow Flowers Bloom, is a testament of a mother’s love and a wife’s devotion in the midst of sudden loss and trauma, with an enlightened perspective on mortality. Cantin will be signing the book at Tecolote Book Shop in the upper village on Saturday, April 29 […]
With a hopeful intention of reopening later this summer, the Coral Casino operations team was in front of Montecito Planning Commission last week – asking for amendments to two of its 92 conditions of operation of the Biltmore Hotel and Coral Casino Development Plan, which were originally approved in 2005. The proposed amendments include reducing […]
At a quiet Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting earlier this week, Montecito Water District general manager Nick Turner reported several happenings at MWD, including an upcoming town hall meeting next week to review and discuss a final draft of Montecito’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan. Since the Montecito Groundwater Sustainability Agency was founded in 2018, data […]
Montecito Natural Foods in Montecito Country Mart will vacate its long-held space by the end of June, after being given notice that its lease is not up for renewal. The shop, dedicated to offering health food products, vitamins, beauty products, and more, has been in business nearly 60 years, with the most recent owners, Gabe […]
An exciting update to a story we’ve been covering for years: the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation announced earlier this week that it has hit its $6M capital campaign goal to create a fully accessible and inclusive playground located on a 10-acre property near the Santa Barbara Zoo. Gwendolyn’s Playground will be the first fully inclusive playground […]
At the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors hearing on Tuesday, the Board was briefed on the Housing Element Update, a draft of which was recently submitted to the State’s Housing and Community Development Department. The Housing Element process occurs every eight years, and requires that local governments must adopt plans and systems that provide […]
Of all its meaningful community members, Pearl Chase has left one of the biggest impressions on our area, helping shape the way this town looks and feels. The Pearl Chase Society, founded in 1995, is an all-volunteer nonprofit conservancy focused on continuing Chase’s legacy. Kellam de Forest, son of influential landscape architects Lockwood de Forest […]
From candles to Coast Village: Montecito Collective, a small business owned by 25-year-old Virginia Barlow and her partner Daniel Heald, has opened a space at 1250 Coast Village Road next to Warner Group Architects. The business was founded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and started as a retailer of candles. Two short years later, […]
Another new store has also opened in Montecito in the last month: Wunderkind is the newest tenant of San Ysidro Village, located in the former home of Birgit Klein Interiors, next to Hogue & Co. Founded by Philip Manghisi, Wunderkind has a flagship store in Scottsdale, Arizona, which opened in 2022. Wunderkind is German word […]
At a rescheduled board meeting last Wednesday, April 22, the Montecito Association Board of Directors met to discuss the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting in which the Board will consider two appeals of the widening of Highway 101 related to the removal of sound walls from the project. The Montecito Association Board voted to send […]
At a SB County Board of Supervisors hearing this past Tuesday, the board was briefed on second-quarter revenues for Fiscal Year 2022-23 related to cannabis tax revenue, which continues to trend lower than budgeted with a projected $10.5M negative variance. With an adopted budget of $16.3M, cannabis cultivation and retail storefront tax is currently projecting […]
In last week’s edition, we told you about Bettina’s plans to open a new location in Carpinteria. This week, word on the street is that Chef Mollie Ahlstrand, formerly of Trattoria Mollie on Coast Village Road and then on State Street, is opening an Italian market/deli on Casitas Pass Road, in the same shopping center […]
Community members are invited to a meeting at Montecito Union School this Thursday, March 9, to learn about the construction staging for the San Ysidro Roundabout, which begins Monday, March 13. Here’s what you need to know. The first phase of work will begin in the northwest corner of the intersection of North Jameson Lane […]
Late last week, Bettina owners Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith announced on social media that they have signed a lease for a new location in Carpinteria, as part of a multi-tenant development project coming to Linden Avenue. The new location will be more casual than the Montecito Country Mart location, and will be more of […]
Also at the SB Board of Supervisors hearing, local realtor and longtime resident Sandy Stahl was appointed to the Montecito Planning Commission, filling the vacancy left by Susan Keller, who was removed from the commission in January after nearly a decade of service. Stahl has been a resident of Montecito since 1982, and has been […]
On Thursday, March 9, at 5 pm, there will be a meeting at Montecito Union School regarding the construction staging for the San Ysidro Roundabout, which starts mid-March. The San Ysidro roundabout project includes replacing the current intersection at San Ysidro, North Jameson, and the Highway 101 northbound entrance and exit with an oblong-shaped roundabout, […]
Cold Spring School accepted both the California Distinguished School and California Exemplary Arts in Education awards from state Superintendent Tony Thurmond on Feb. 16 at the Disneyland Hotel. Cold Spring is the only school in the state to receive both honors. Five Santa Barbara County elementary schools were named 2023 California Distinguished Schools by the […]
On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted to allow the county’s Community Services Department, Parks Division, to pursue all necessary permits and agreements related to placing a seasonal swim platform in the ocean off Miramar Beach in Montecito. The platform project is being pursued by the Rosewood Miramar team in an attempt […]
At the first hearing of the year of the Montecito Planning Commission (MPC), the commission was back in person for the first time since before the pandemic. Chair Ron Pulice thanked former Commissioner Susan Keller for her nearly 10 years of service on the commission; it was decided that election of the 2023 MPC Chair, […]
Social media is already abuzz with a new business that is slated to open in early spring: Urgent Veterinary Care of Santa Barbara, the first urgent-care clinic in our area intended to bridge the gap between a general veterinary practice and an emergency hospital. The facility is the brainchild of local veterinarian Dr. Addie Crawford […]
Earlier this week, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor announced his upcoming retirement from the Montecito Fire Department after 35 years of service. Chief Taylor has served as fire chief since 2019; his last day at the helm will be March 31. “This career has been the honor of my life,” Chief Taylor told us during […]
The largest golf store in Santa Barbara and Montecito is under new ownership, featuring 25-year-old local resident Alex Bollag at the helm. Golf Max is located next to Harry’s Plaza Café in Loreto Plaza and opened for business last fall. The location was formerly a golf store called The Golf Klub; owner Tom Noyes announced […]
Kaitlyn Furr and Ben Kirkwood have opened a new private training facility on Coast Village Road called Montecito Fitness. The luxury studio is located in the former location of Trattoria Mollie, which closed in 2018. “When we saw this space, we knew we wanted to be here,” Furr told us during a recent visit to […]
A month after a significant rain event damaged Montecito homes, roads, and trails, Walk Montecito – a project by the Bucket Brigade – is still digging out from the catastrophic damage to the neighborhood trail network. “We need the community’s support to get through this,” said Bucket Brigade founder Abe Powell. The Olive Mill neighborhood […]
Mary and Lucy Firestone held a launch party last week at Kunin Wines to introduce their newest perfume, called Open. The fragrance is the second from the sisters and their brand, Wild Precious Life. “Open is all about opening our minds and hearts,” say the sisters, whose first perfume, The First, has a cult following […]
A community-wide event was scheduled on the evening of January 9, 2023, to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the 1/9 Debris Flow; the event was canceled by organizers a few days prior, as Montecito prepared for a significant storm event that would eventually lead to an evacuation of the entire community. This past weekend, Bucket […]
Kristina McKean, founder of the philanthropic toy company The Elephant Project, is proud to share that she has returned from a life-changing, successful journey to Chiang Mai, Thailand. She just completed a visit to the source of her company’s initial inspiration, Elephant Nature Park. McKean crossed the globe to meet the world-renowned sanctuary’s staff and […]
Montecito Association’s Annual Meeting was postponed last week because of the storm and evacuation, instead meeting on Wednesday, January 11. The Board of Directors and attendees were briefed on evacuations and flood damage by Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Commander Brad Welch, and Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi. Chief Taylor thanked the Board […]