City seeks developers for new transit center

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

After recently releasing a feasibility study for a new transit center in Santa Barbara, city leaders are taking the next step of seeking a qualified development team to take on the responsibility of planning, designing, constructing and managing the project.
Although the concept came to the surface in 2003 as a renovation and reconfiguration of the MTD Transit Center on Chapala Street, the city hopes to develop that site and a neighboring public parking lot into a mixed-use project combining commercial property, affordable housing, public parking and a new transit hub.

City officials are looking for a development team with experience in mixed-use projects, transit-oriented development, affordable housing and green building. Developers will have to take into account a variety of restrictions, including compliance with the city's General Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Urban Design Guidelines, not to mention compatibility with the El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District and neighboring buildings.
"Although the Zoning Ordinance allows consideration of a 60-foot building on this site, many advisory board members, decision-makers and members of the public expressed a desire to restrict the development to a smaller building envelope," city staff noted.
In their request for qualifications, staff listed a variety of elements for consideration, including creating a minimum of 16 bus bays, placing the majority of parking underground, and providing attractive public open spaces and private common areas for residents.
Developers are also expected to strive for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification at a minimum, city staff said.
A planning strategy and feasibility analysis released at the beginning of the month developed nine alternatives for the project, including five at the Chapala Street site, two that incorporated the adjacent Greyhound Bus Lines parcel, one located at the train depot on State Street, and another at the Carrillo/Castillo street commuter lot.
The analysis determined the 1.8-acre site at Chapala and Figueroa streets to be the most suitable for a joint development project. Since the commencement of the study, the city has engaged in seven public meetings to seek input from the community, a strategy city leaders plan to continue.
"The selected development team should be prepared to initiate and manage a process that allows ample opportunity for community participation and input prior to final approval," staff said.
Developers will have until November to submit a statement of qualifications. Project proposals will be due in March 2008 with final developer selection slated for April or May 2008.