A longtime Isla Vista resident is fighting the development of a 45-bedroom housing project on Sueno Road out of concern for public safety.

The project was approved by the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission in April, but Pegeen Soutar and her husband, Jon, will be pleading their case to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, claiming that the development would worsen already dangerous traffic conditions and congested parking.

“We’ve had dogs hit in the neighborhood, we’ve had cats hit in the neighborhood,” Soutar said. “If somebody comes out from between cars, nobody’s going to see them coming. You get a lot of people from out of town coming in on the weekends, and they have no idea what this place is like, and they’re driving fast and they’re not driving safely.”

A single-family home currently sits on the project site, at 6737 Sueno Road, and is surrounded by other single-family homes and small two-story multifamily buildings. That side of Isla Vista has smaller buildings and mostly single-family homes, while the east side of Isla Vista is known more for larger high-density buildings. 

Pegeen Soutar said she has lived in Isla Vista for more than 40 years and served for 20 years on the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District Board of Directors. 

The project is proposed by Ed St. George, a well-known Isla Vista developer with numerous other housing projects in the area. The three-story building would include 13 three-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units, for a total of 45 bedrooms, 24 parking spaces, 48 bike lockers and 52 bike racks.

Two units would be priced for very-low-income individuals and two for moderate-income people. 

As a result, the project falls under the State Density Bonus Law, which means the developers were allowed to have more units than what is normally allowed for the area.

With the project’s proximity to bus stops, the developers legally didn’t have to add any vehicle parking. Lonnie Roy, an agent with the project, said the owner added parking because they believe in responsible development.

Soutar argues that 24 spaces would not be enough for all the residents who would live there. During the school year, Isla Vista is packed with vehicles, forcing students to park against red curbs, driveways and double park, which contributes to low visibility and unsafe conditions.

“I just want this street safe,” Soutar said. “I want the whole thing safe. I want the whole community safe.”

Roy said they don’t believe the development would necessarily increase the population or vehicles in Isla Vista. 

“Isla Vista has been experiencing overcrowding for many years, and to alleviate this, additional housing is needed,” Roy said in a statement to Noozhawk. “As such, we do not believe that the proposed project necessarily generates additional Isla Vista population and, therefore, vehicles. This project is simply providing additional housing opportunities for the existing population, thus distributing the existing vehicles, not adding.”

Roy added that the project includes two or three rideshare spaces, so pickups and drop-offs can happen on site rather in the street, and a turnaround for large delivery vehicles.

Soutar wants county supervisors to look at the big picture for Isla Vista.

Proposed major housing developments and accessory dwelling units are expected to create more than 400 new bedrooms and 120 parking spaces, which Soutar argues that Isla Vista doesn’t have the infrastructure to support.

“If this stuff is going to happen, then how do we put in the infrastructure?” Soutar said. “You want this set up — set it up for success. Set it up so people don’t get hit. Set it up so there aren’t all of these accidents and injuries happening out here.”

Roy noted that the Sueno Road project is contributing 20% of the 120 proposed parking spaces in Isla Vista, despite it not being mandated to do so. 

“The appeal seems misguided in targeting a project that is actually providing parking instead of appealing projects that are proposing no parking,” Roy said. “The appeal is also anti-housing. The net effect if the appeal is upheld is that the county would not be able to approve any housing project in Isla Vista, leading to continued overcrowding and high rental prices.

“The property owners are long-standing members of the Isla Vista community and have a long history in supporting its residents. They strongly believe that the proposed project responsibly develops a blighted property and will be a positive and safe contribution to the community.”

The project was first reviewed by a concerned county Planning Commission in February, which asked the developers to willingly go to the county Board of Architectural Review for additional review. 

At a March review hearing, the board found that the design improved but said it was incompatible with the neighborhood. 

When developers returned to the Planning Commission in April, they lowered the number of bedrooms from 48 to 45. 

Under state laws meant to streamline projects with any kind of affordability, the county isn’t allowed to deny the project unless there is proof that it will have an adverse impact on public health and safety, which Soutar will have to prove on Tuesday.

County staff recommend that the supervisors deny the Soutars’ appeal, but the supervisors will make the final decision at the hearing on Tuesday, which is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors hearing room at 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.

Public comments can be made in person, via Zoom or by submitting a letter to sbcob@countyofsb.org by 5 p.m. Monday.