The Santa Barbara Planning Commission gave support to a 90-unit, four-story apartment project on Santa Barbara’s Eastside.

But some Eastside residents, and tenant activists, aren’t happy that eight seniors who currently live on part of the property will need to move out.

Emma Hanlon, a member of the Santa Barbara Tenants Union, spoke at Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting and called the project “a displacement event.”

“There are lives and gardens, community cats, front porch decorations, neighborly relationships and networks of community that have been built in these eight cottages,” Hanlon said. “The Santa Barbara Tenants Union does not see the 90 units as a gift or a tenant-centered development. We are not fooled by the nine low-income units.”

The hearing was a concept review. No decisions were made.

Developers want to build the 90-unit project on two parcels, at 418 N. Milpas St. and 915-923 E. Gutierrez St. The project involves the demolition of eight senior units.

The development would include 65 parking spaces, 128 bike stalls, and units ranging from 350 to 974 square feet. Nine of the apartments would be set aside for very-low-income tenants and six for moderate-income tenants. The project would include about 850 commercial square feet.

The development is owned by the Goldenstone Trust, Donald Barthelmess and Carol Kallman. Longtime Santa Barbara resident and community member Bob Ludwick manages the eight units and assured the Planning Commission that those tenants will be taken care of.

“I know every one of those tenants,” Ludwick said. “I have cared for them for 20 years. When I took over there was a tenant who had been there 21 years. I saw him to his last days, and that is true of many of those tenants. If anyone in this room behind me thinks I don’t care about those tenants, they don’t know who I am. We will take care of those tenants.”

Ludwick said any development at the site is at least two years away. He also said he is interested in moving the actual eight structures to a different site so the tenants can keep their homes, and that the tenants would receive tenant relocation assistance.

“If it is possible to move those units, I would like to do so,” Ludwick said.

The developers are asking for a height exception to reach 50 feet, 9 inches. The building height limit for that part of the Eastside is 45 feet.

The highest part of the building is 64 feet, 10 inches.

Another concession the developers are asking for is to only have 65 parking spaces. Normally one space would be required for each unit, but if 11% of the spaces are for very-low-income individuals, parking can be reduced to half a space per unit. Instead of 45, the developers plan to build 65.

Some people who live on the Eastside said the neighborhood will experience significant parking impacts.

“I am all for change and making things better, but this is pretty massive, it’s pretty big,” said Jeff Espinosa. “Especially four stories for Milpas Street.”

He said most people have more than one car, and that it was going to worsen parking and affect all the businesses on Milpas Street.

Eastside resident and business owner Natasha Todorovic expressed strong criticism. She said the renderings were not realistic.

“Are these apartments being made for 3-foot-tall people?” Todorovic asked. “They look like they are only two floors high.”

Todorovic said the size of the apartments is incompatible.

“This massive thing looks like a giant apartment building dropped in from Los Angeles in the middle of our neighborhood,” she said. “It does not fit. It is not compatible. It does not belong in a neighborhood of bungalows.”

The commissioners expressed concern about parts of the architecture and called for fewer blank walls. The Architectural Board of Review is the final decision-maker on the project, which is proposed under the city’s Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program
and State Density Bonus Law.

Commissioners expressed a desire for more housing in the community, but urged the developers to hear the concerns of the neighbors. They also asked that the developers put up story poles so everyone can see how tall the building is.

“We really appreciate the work that you have done,” said Planning Commission Chair Devon Wardlow. “Obviously you have a local team here that is pushing this project forward, people that have spent a long time in this neighborhood and are very knowledgeable.”

Wardlow said that everyone is still concerned about the displacement of the residents.

“I just ask if the applicant team will consider increasing the amount of affordable units in this project,” Wardlow said. “I know you are not required to in any way. I just ask that the development team consider it as they move forward with the development of this project.”

Planning Commissioner Brian Barnwell said the city should consider developing a public parking program on Milpas Street to help merchants and the residents. The city’s creation of parking garages 30 years ago helped save downtown at a time when La Cumbre Plaza was taking away much of the business from downtown.

“I think a discussion about parking on Milpas Street is critical,” Barnwell said.

Barnwell said the city’s hands are not tied.

“The city has something it can do, and that is to begin to develop some pocket parking areas over on the Milpas corridor,” Barnwell said.