A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project and Tri-County Produce expansion at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta.
A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project and Tri-County Produce expansion at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta. Credit: Cearnal Collective / Courtesy photo

Revised plans for the housing project and Tri-County Produce expansion on South Milpas Street got design approval from Santa Barbara’s Architectural Board of Review last week.

This project has fewer units (45, down from 53) since its last review because developers wanted to boost the number of three-bedroom units, architect Brian Cearnal said at the Tuesday hearing. 

The rest of the design hasn’t changed much since its 2024 review, he said. Developers will build a 4,701-square-foot addition to the Tri-County Produce market at 335 S. Milpas St. and add an outdoor patio.

On the adjacent lot, east of the market on Calle Puerto Vallarta, developers want to build a four-story, 45-unit housing development and a 47-spot parking garage. 

Developers plan to demolish three commercial buildings on the site and remove several trees, some of which will be replaced. 

State density bonus law allows higher buildings, smaller setbacks and lower parking requirements, city staff noted. 

ARB members were supportive in their comments and called it a good project.

Lauren Anderson, David Black, Richard Six and Will Sofrin voted 4-0 to approve the project design. 

A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta, seen from Calle Puerto Vallarta.
A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta, seen from Calle Puerto Vallarta. Credit: Cearnal Collective / Courtesy rendering

The design has gone through several variations, but the new partners felt strongly that there should be more three-bedroom units to accommodate families, and that Tri-County Produce should be saved, Cearnal said. 

Most housing projects coming through the city review process have had one-bedroom and studio apartments, Cearnal said. “So we changed the unit count to generate as many three-bedroom units as possible” and it has 14, he said.  

“And they’re passionate about keeping Tri-County Produce alive, so it’s a good thing.” 

The market has new owners and will be expanded under the project. 

Cearnal noted that none of the units can be used as vacation rentals, as a condition of approval by the city’s staff hearing officer. 

One person who lives near the project spoke during public comment and said Board members should address the height, since it may create a “canyon effect” for Calle Puerto Vallarta homes across the street. 

Cearnal said the units are 11 feet from floor to floor to allow higher ceilings since the spaces are small to start with. 

This type of project allows five review hearings, and Tuesday was the fifth hearing, according to city staff.

A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project and Tri-County Produce expansion at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta, seen from the nearby railroad tracks and Highway 101 on-ramp.
A rendering of the proposed 45-unit housing project and Tri-County Produce expansion at South Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta, seen from the nearby railroad tracks and Highway 101 on-ramp. Credit: Cearnal Collective / Courtesy rendering

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.