The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on Wednesday supported an Orcutt developer’s plans to build a 99-unit affordable housing project rather than a previously approved 61-unit project for the same property.
The Key Site H property is at 1331 E. Foster Road, which is near St. Joseph High School and Edgewood Park.
The county previously approved a housing project with taller, denser buildings clustered along East Foster Road. Planning staff worked with developers on the current proposal, which is considered more compatible with the neighborhood.
It’s more units, but they’re spread out around the site in four buildings rather than clustered at one end of the property. The school building and home on the site were built as part of the previous plan, and they would be demolished to make room for the new buildings.
Planning commissioners unanimously supported the development agreement, which will go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval or denial. If it’s approved, the developer will apply for a zoning clearance and building permit and demolition permit.
“It’s not a yes or no decision; it’s an either/or decision,” said Commissioner Roy Reed, who was appointed to the commission in November and whose district includes the project site. “I think this is a wonderful project; I’m glad I’m actually able to participate in it.”
Reed said the development is “a small step forward to meet a substantial need” and could be a model for other local housing projects.
Gene Broussard from AMG & Associates said his organization has developed more than 10,000 units in California and 95% of the portfolio is affordable housing.
AMG and partner The Pacific Companies use third-party property management companies to do income verification and on-site management, he said. Two of the units are manager units and 97 will be affordable housing units.
Planning & Development Director Lisa Plowman said tax credit projects like this are 100% affordable, usually for low-income households.
“The developer was amazingly flexible coming up with an alternative project better for the community,” she said.