The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a new 47,000-gallon water tank for a Toro Canyon property.

The 346-square-foot tank is in case of a fire on the property or if there is a need to have portable water in case of an emergency. Use of the water tank will be only for the property at 3564 Toro Canyon Park Road.

Before the vote Wednesday afternoon, Commissioner C. ​​Michael Cooney spoke about his initial concern for the project because of the tank’s size. However, he reportedly changed his mind after visiting the site.

“It was perfectly obvious, the vulnerability of this property to wildfires,” Conney said.

There is currently a 40,000-gallon tank on the property that is not permitted but will be permitted as part of the project proposal.

The proposed tank would be 18 feet 9 inches tall, but 4 feet would be in the ground, making it 15 feet. The tank would have enough water to battle a two-day firestorm, according to project architect Kent Mixon.

The proposal was approved on the condition that the applicant maintain the landscape around the current tank and proposed tank. If the landscape were to die, the applicant would have to replace it with native vegetation within 90 days.

Commission chair John Parke said on Wednesday that he was concerned about the native landscape being disturbed but was happy with the proposal.

“There’s not much being displaced,” he said. “What’s being affected isn’t native or desirable. I’m happy with this as well.”