The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission deemed a proposed project along Garden Street as “too whimsical,” and said it did not fit the area.

Local architect Jeff Shelton presented a new mixed-use building project proposed for 813 Garden St. for a concept review to the commission earlier this month, complete with a pink design and an array of ornaments in the front.

The three-story project would include an eight-room hotel, an accessory dwelling unit and a residential home. Shelton said the plan is to keep the property about 10,000 square feet.

The pink design came out of the owner’s desire for some color, according to Shelton. He said his goal is to play with the color and believes it gives some life to the street.

“We’re … three blocks off State Street. It’s just a fun little district. It has a new hotel across the street, and a great hotel up the street,” Shelton said. “The pink is just a direction we could go with to keep it interesting.”

Even though the commission did not oppose the project, many of the commissioners were turned off by the color of the building, saying it did not match the surrounding design elements.

The project is in the El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District.

“I think it’s a wonderful design,” Commissioner Keith Butler said. “It’s beautiful. It’s playful. Doesn’t fit, doesn’t fit in the area.”

Butler said he thinks design aspects such as the color of the building and proposed domes should be toned down if the project moves forward.

“I think it’s just … trying too hard, and it’s not reflective of the EPV that we see in our Spanish colonial tradition,” he said.

Commissioner Robert Ooley admitted that he liked the building despite not always supporting Shelton’s designs. He said if the property were closer to the core of the EPV, he would oppose the plans, but said the building is near the fringe of the area.

“I like the building. I know you’re shocked I like it,” Ooley said. “I like how playful it is. I think it fits along Garden Street or along the periphery of the core of the EPV.”

Ooley did ask for the shade of the pink to be toned down. Shelton said earlier in the meeting that the pink in the rendering was not the actual shade he plans to use.

Speakers during public comment, while not opposing the project, said they would like a style that fits the area.

Lang Sligh, who lives near the site on East Canon Perdido Street, said he likes Shelton’s style but would like something less “whimsical.”

“We’re familiar with at least three of Mr. Shelton’s designs along here, along Garden Street, and I find them interesting, whimsical and joyful to look at, but not Santa Barbara historical,” Sligh said.

Commissioner Charles McClure agreed with Sligh, and said he found the design interesting, but said it was “too whimsical” for the EPV because of its form and color.

The commission voted to offer suggestions that Shelton make some revisions to the design. One of the commission’s recommendations was to pick a lighter or more “earthy” shade of pink or switch to white like the surrounding buildings.

Some recommended that future building plans tone down some of the ornaments on the front of the property and move them to the back.

The commissioners also recommended that the owner of the property talk to neighbors about the project and investigate how the building could block their sunlight.