Upper State Street talks continue

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Proposed design guidelines and short-term improvement projects for upper State Street will be up for discussion at the Santa Barbara City Council's meeting tomorrow.
Councilmembers will also decide whether to hire a consultant to develop those guidelines further in a process that is expected to take until February 2009. The Upper State Street Design Guidelines, which provide guidance on topics such as architecture, building height, lighting and neighborhood compatibility, haven't been updated since their adoption in 1992.

Following a yearlong study of the area between Highway 101 and Calle Laureles that included traffic studies, community workshops and joint meetings between city advisory boards and commissions, the Council directed staff to return with a work program for short-term improvements earlier this year.
"Most of the items in the near-term list are capital projects such as traffic signal and intersection improvements, new sidewalks, bus stop improvements, and medians," city staff said. "These projects will be added to the unfunded capital project list."
Although the city's many capital projects compete for relatively few funds, staff noted most of the short-term improvements will be made through the land development review process. As new development projects located on upper State Street are reviewed by the city, they will be required to comply with the design guidelines that are currently being developed.
For example, developments will be required to meet new sidewalk standards and develop improved driveway locations and more efficient parking configurations. Tenant improvements that do not add new square footage are not likely to trigger those types of requirements.
Other projects suggested by the study include traffic monitoring and transportation system developments that will need to be joined with existing city programs. Efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the area will continue through the Alternative Transportation program, staff said, which includes a goal of installing 50 bicycle hitching posts by next summer.
Several projects are already underway, such as the MTD's increased bus service and reconfiguration of State and De la Vina streets.
Design guidelines for upper State Street will include sections on maintaining mountain views, open space and creeks. Building setbacks, size, access and parking will also be addressed. Staff hope to negotiate and approve a consultant contract by the beginning of 2008.
After public review of the guidelines developed by the consultant — through the Architectural Board of Review, Planning Commission and Ordinance Committee in the latter half of 2008 — the final proposed guidelines will be reviewed for adoption by the City Council in early 2009, staff predict.
If the Council decides to approve the consultant process tomorrow, the expected cost is in the range of $250,000 to $350,000.