South County Board of Architectural Review member Valerie Froscher says there have been improvements since the Planning Commission review of a proposed Isla Vista housing project, but that she still finds it to be incompatible with the immediate neighborhood.
South County Board of Architectural Review member Valerie Froscher says there have been improvements since the Planning Commission review of a proposed Isla Vista housing project, but that she still finds it to be incompatible with the immediate neighborhood. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

While reviewing an Isla Vista housing project on Friday, the South County Board of Architectural Review said the design has improved, but members still found the project incompatible with the neighborhood.

The review board, however, isn’t allowed to require any changes. It can only make comments and suggestions that the developers can choose to implement — or ignore.

The board discussed the three-story housing project proposed for 6737 Sueno Road after the county Planning Commission asked developers if they would willingly go to the board for voluntary review.

The project meets the conditions of the Housing Accountability Act and SB 330, which means it qualifies for a streamlined review process and local governments can’t downsize the project. 

During public comment, Planning Commission chair Laura Bridley told the review board members that while they had no discretion over the project, she was hoping their comments would help encourage some improvements. 

“The Planning Commission was quite concerned with the size, bulk, scale of this. It’s the first large project in Isla Vista that’s coming under this 330. There are several more on our projected report,” Bridley said. “What Mr. (Lonnie) Roy produced today was an improvement, in my individual opinion, but we’re interested in your feedback.”

The project includes three three-story buildings with a total of 16 units, 48 bedrooms and 24 parking spaces. It would include two affordable units for very-low-income individuals under State Density Bonus Law as well as two moderate-income units and 12 market-rate units. 

During public comment, Santa Barbara County Planning Commission chair Laura Bridley tells the review board that while it had no discretion over the project, she was hoping members' comments would help encourage some improvements.
During public comment, Santa Barbara County Planning Commission chair Laura Bridley tells the review board that while it had no discretion over the project, she was hoping members’ comments would help encourage some improvements. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

The property currently has only a single-family home and a detached garage.

The area around the proposed project consists of mostly single-family residential homes or two-story residential buildings.

Since the Planning Commission hearing last month, Lonnie Roy, the agent for developer Ed St. George, shared that they made some design changes in order to soften the architecture.

The color pallet changed from brown, yellow and blue to green and cream. The roofs were revised to shed-style roofs, and canopy trees were added to screen the property.

Pegeen Soutar, an Isla Vista resident whose home neighbors the proposed project, said she liked the new design but was still concerned with the height. 

“I appreciate some of the architectural changes that have been made. It softens it, it makes it a little better, but honestly, I would love for it to be two stories,” Soutar said during public comment. “If it was two stories it would fit; it would not cause the immense problems we’re gonna have with parking.”

Board member Valerie Froscher said there had been dramatic improvements since the Planning Commission review, but she still found it to be incompatible with the immediate neighborhood.

Pegeen Soutar of Isla Vista, a neighbor to the proposed project, says she likes the new design but is still concerned with the height.
Pegeen Soutar of Isla Vista, a neighbor to the proposed project, says she likes the new design but is still concerned with the height. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

“I feel like part of the huge conflict here is that this is clearly a single-family residential neighborhood, and three stories is a major impact to the neighborhood — and it’s a forever impact,” Froscher said. 

She suggested that the developers consider having underground parking to allow for two-story buildings without sacrificing the number of units. 

“That would be a suggestion that I’m sure you’re not gonna do because it’s expensive, but any way that you could introduce two-story elements into this would be at least something to help with the severe impact of this,” Froscher said. 

The top rendering shows the version of the project seen by the Planning Commission, and the bottom rendering shows the new project.
The top rendering shows the version of the project seen by the Planning Commission, and the bottom rendering shows the new project. Credit: Courtesy rendering

Board member Keir Smith said he also found the project to be incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood. 

“I think this project is not compatible with the neighborhood — size, bulk and scale are not compatible,” Smith said. “I think you guys know that, and I think we all know that, but our hands are kind of tied at this point.”

A street view of the old and current designs.
A street view of the old and current designs. Credit: Courtesy rendering

He added that he appreciated the planting but suggested better fencing around the property for sound and security, and to separate it from the surrounding single-family residences.

The public will have to wait and see whether the developers implement any of the board’s suggestions. The project is set to return to the county Planning Commission on April 2. 

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.