They are trying to make it easy.
The city of Santa Barbara is looking to pre-approve outdoor furniture for State Street to make it easier for restaurants. The Historic Landmarks Commission reviewed pre-approved designs at its meeting last week.
“The intent behind it is to provide businesses with this type of a list so that they can decide if they want to go out and purchase new tables and chairs and don’t necessarily have to come into our office or HLC,” said Tess Harris, State Street master planner.
The furniture types include tables, chairs, umbrellas, planters, pots and awnings. Restaurants would be able to buy the items and set them out on the street directly if they are on the list.
“It is intended to enhance the look of downtown and create a more cohesive look overall,” Harris said.
Santa Barbara closed nine blocks of State Street to cars in May of 2020 to allow restaurants to move their dining outdoors, at the height of COVID-19. Five years later, the street is still closed, and many restaurants still have outdoor dining. But there is not cohesion in the various designs for the parklets or outdoor dining furniture, creating a scattered, disorganized look in parts.
The list of designs would not be all-inclusive; applicants could still propose something to the HLC for approval. The list of designs is still working its way through the process. Click here to read the nine pages of proposed guidelines that include color palettes, materials and durability.
For example, for outdoor furniture, they must include durable materials such as wood or
metal with complementary finishes. Plastic and vinyl patio furniture is prohibited.
Designs should be traditional and in scale with the area. Color must align with approved standards.
Poorly maintained or damaged furniture is not allowed. Businesses must ensure that all items are in good condition, free from rust, rot, or other signs of neglect. It is the responsibility of businesses to buy according to their insurance and safety of their clients.
Commissioner Ed Lenvik raised some concerns and asked if the city is offering too many options.
“If we have all those colors, it could be a real interesting State Street,” Lenvik said. “Every other restaurant has a different color, and I don’t know that’s the image we want to have for downtown. I don’t want to see that many ultimately.”
HLC Board Member Cass Ensberg said she likes variety.
“As I am imagining the street, I really feel it is important there be variety and that it doesn’t have this monolithic look,” Ensberg said. “It should have a lot of different character and flavor, frivolity, I’ll say.”
She said adding all of the different aspects is what will make State Street interesting. She said she liked the idea of many different styles of umbrellas.
“I just think not having every single umbrella so that it is identical, I think there is some advantage to that,” Ensberg said.
For a list of “Santa Barbara Colors,” click here.
Commissioner Dennis Doordan said that at a time when the city is criticized for having a sluggish developmental approval process, this effort is a step in a different direction.
“Critics sometimes claim that review boards and city staff put too many obstacles in the way of fast development,” Doordan said. “I would just like to point out that this item is an example of just the opposite.”