The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board on Thursday approved the final proposal for what will be known as Hotel Harmony, a 72-room hotel planned for 4100 Via Real.

A church building currently stands on that 2.6-acre property. As part of the project, the single-story church building, a children’s play area, a garden and other storage sheds will be torn down.

Beyond the 72 guest rooms, the hotel will have a garden patio, a fitness room, a breakfast area, a business center, a meeting room and other related hotel support services, per city staff.

There is a 50-foot setback from the creek on the west side, and the applicant, RAM Hotels, has plans to restore a wetland on the site. 

The Carpinteria Planning Commission approved the project in April 2023. It has gone through nine public review meetings since its first proposal back in 2013.

The hotel was originally proposed as a three-story, 30-foot-high structure. It has since been scaled down to a maximum height of 21 feet, 10 inches, to 25 feet, from the finished grade to the top of the roof parapets. 

City staff said the project was previously proposed as a Fairfield Hotel. City Principal Planner Bret McNulty said RAM Hotels has been the same developer throughout this process.

Representatives for RAM Hotels told the board the team had moved away from the Marriott and Fairfield branding after learning about Carpinteria’s formula business ordinance. The city has restricted big-box stores and in 2023 passed strict regulations on new formula businesses — businesses that have seven or more locations in the United States.  

The hotel is now envisioned as an upscale boutique hotel, representatives said. 

There was originally a swimming pool planned for the site, though project architect Nikhil Kamat said the developers no longer want to include a pool due to feasibility and cost. 

That area could be replaced by an outdoor patio, he said. The design for that will come back to the city for review. 

“It’s a perfect spot for hotel guests to flow to and from that terrace,” he told the board. 

McNulty said this is a “minor change” that doesn’t require a hearing. 

Board members had a few questions and clarifications about water usage, potted plants, lighting dimness and color, but they thanked the applicants for sticking with this project for so long and being willing to adapt to the community. 

“This project’s been around for a while. You guys have endured quite a bit,” Board member Patrick O’Connor said.

Board member Richard Little said he welcomes “an upscale hotel that actually is an upscale hotel,” but warned that guests who want a smaller, boutique vibe will likely gravitate toward the proposed Surfliner Inn instead. 

Board member Amy Blakemore, who was absent on Thursday, provided her comments through O’Connor. 

The final approval with comments passed 4-0, with Board member Lisa Wolfe voting remotely.