A developer has proposed an 18-story, 130-unit apartment project in Carpinteria.
The project is proposed for 5115 Ogan Road, which is undeveloped and sits at the corner near a roundabout and Highway 101. The building would reach 218 feet. The current maximum height for residential buildings in Carpinteria is 30 feet.
The development as proposed consists of 47 one-bedrooms, 46 two-bedrooms, and 37 three-bedrooms.
The eucalyptus trees and all vegetation will be cleared and replaced with “extensive gardens, vertical gardens and green roofs and terraces,” according to the application.
The application asks that the development be processed as quickly as possible to address the “city’s existing housing crisis.”
“The project is taking advantage of an isolated piece of land near the freeway will provide 130 residential units including 26 units reserved for low-income rental housing and is adjacent to two bicycle thoroughfares and within a pedestrian bridge blocks from the downtown center,” wrote Ben Eilenberg, listed as manager for Carpinteria Group LLC, in the application.
The project was originally submitted in June and has been resubmitted twice. The city of Carpinteria deemed the application incomplete in July.
The developers submitted the application again on Sept. 25, and the city determined it was incomplete on Oct. 29. According to the incomplete letter, the developers do not believe they need an amendment to the Local Coastal Plan, and the city of Carpinteria does. The developers also believe the city is asking for information not required at this stage of an application, including locations of solar panels and charging stations.
The city is requesting a variety of other information related to the specificity of the units, drainage, grading and water matters.
Eilenberg, the manager of the LLC that proposed the development, is also behind the proposed 8-story housing project behind the Santa Barbara Mission. He is listed as chief operating officer for So Cal Industrial Equities, doing business as The Mission LLC. That project too is snarled, with the city of Santa Barbara and the developer in court over whether to process the application.
Carpinteria deemed the 18-story project incomplete on Oct. 29. If the developer does not respond within 90 days, the application would be considered dropped.
Roy Lee, a former Carpinteria city councilman, and current First District Santa Barbara County supervisor, said he strongly opposes the development.
“This project doesn’t create solutions,” Lee said. “It only creates new problems. If this gets built, it will be an 18-story middle finger to everyone who has worked to preserve the character of Carpinteria.”