The City of Goleta’s Design Review Board (DRB) will be conducting Conceptual and Preliminary level design review of a proposed mixed-use project at its meeting on July 14 at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in person at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive) and via the Zoom platform. A link can be found in the agenda, posted at least 72 hours in advance at http://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings. The public may also view the meeting on the City's website or Goleta TV Channel 19.

The applicant, City Ventures, has proposed the construction of a Housing Accountability Act (HAA) and Senate Bill 330 (SB330) housing development project for 44 three-story dwelling units and two live-work three-story units on a 1.98-acre lot. The project includes demolition of the approximately 12,000-square foot commercial building and freestanding abandoned pole sign. As an SB 330 housing project, the project is limited to a total of five (5) public hearings.

The total floor area would be 68,329 square feet, comprised of: 1) 44 three-story, three-bedroom units with attached two-car garages, 2) two three-story, three-bedroom live-work units with attached two-car garages, and 3) a dog park with shaded picnic and grilling area. The 46 units would range in size from 1,333 to 1,672 square feet. Each residential unit will have ground floor patio and balcony space on the 2^nd floor. In addition, five guest parking spaces will be provided for a total of 97 parking spaces. The proposed project is offering all-electric with solar, smart technology, Energy Star appliances, dual-glazed windows with ultra-violet coatings and water efficient fixtures with each residence. The lot is located on the south side of the Calle Real commercial corridor and is zoned Community Commercial (CC).

The maximum number of units allowed by the CC zoning at this site is 39.6 dwelling units. Twenty (20) dwelling units per acre is the base maximum density allowed by the CC zoning district. In addition to the protections afforded under the HAA and SB 330, the project is also utilizing State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) to achieve a density increase above the base density (23.2 units per acre), while providing parking in excess of the SDBL’s reduced parking standards. While the project will comply with the City’s two-covered spaces per two or more-bedroom unit parking requirement, the project will only provide five guest parking spaces (reduction of 10 from Title 17 standards) which is allowed under SDBL. SDBL supersedes Title 17 requirements.

The applicant will be meeting the City’s inclusionary housing requirements (20% of the project) by deed-restricting two of the residential units for very low-income households and paying in-lieu fees to satisfy the remaining requirements of 5.8 units.

Further, the proposed project is requesting the following waivers from the City’s standards as follows:

1. Exceeding the height limits by 4’ for a maximum height of 39’ height (35’ maximum height allowed in CC zone);
2. Reducing common bicycle charging outlets from five to zero (Goleta Municipal Code Section 17.38.090(C));
3. Reducing parking lot heat island standards from 480 square feet to zero square feet (Goleta Municipal Code Section 17.38.110.J).

The project meets the City’s requirements for mixed-use development open space standards, setbacks, and landscaping. The entitlements required for this project are a Tentative Tract Map, Design Review, a Development Plan, and two Land use Permits for the Live-Work units with the Planning Commission acting as the Review Authority.

Following the DRB hearing on July 14, the project will be considered by the Planning Commission at a later date with additional notice given. The Planning Commission will also review and consider the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis determination which is Exempt through AB 130 for this project at the same time as the other project components.  

Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing by emailing the Planning and Environmental Review Department at PERmeetings@cityofgoleta.gov. Communication received after 12 noon on the date of a hearing may not give the hearing body adequate time to consider the comments prior to the meeting. Sign up here to have DRB and Planning Commission Agendas sent to your inbox. 

Please direct questions and/or comments regarding this project and the DRB Conceptual and Preliminary level review hearing to Associate Planner Christina McGuire at CMcGuire@cityofgoleta.gov.

Street perspective rendering of proposed project


Rear perspective rendering of proposed project