Community Development
Welcome to the Community Development Department
Community Development assists the public in managing the development of the community in order to protect and preserve the quality of life, promote a sound economic base and appropriate design, and ensure safe construction, all in balance with the constraints of the City’s environment and resources.
Director's Decision
On November 18, 2025, the Community Development Director will make a decision on the proposed encroachment into the Mission Creek Development Limitation Area for the project at 519 W. Los Olivos Street. Per Santa Barbara Municipal Code (SBMC) §30.140.050 (Development Along Mission Creek), no development is permitted within 25 feet of the top-of-bank of Mission Creek, defined as the “Development Limitation Area.” The purpose is to prevent undue damage or destruction of developments by flood waters; prevent development on one parcel from causing undue detrimental impact on adjacent or down-stream properties in the event of flood waters; and to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
However, the Municipal Code does provide for relief from this 25-foot Development Limitation Area if certain findings can be made. Staff found that the findings can be made because the encroachment would not significantly reduce existing floodways; realign stream beds or otherwise adversely affect other properties by increasing stream velocities or depths, or by diverting the flow; and that the proposed new development will be reasonably safe from flow-related erosion and will not cause flow-related erosion hazards or otherwise aggravate existing flow-related erosion hazards. Review the staff memo and project plans here for more information.
The 10-day comment period is open to provide oral or written comments to the Director. You may submit comments via email to Carly Earnest, Associate Planner at CEarnest@SantaBarbaraCA.gov. The decision of the Community Development Director will be final unless appealed by the applicant or any interested person to the Planning Commission within 10 days of the decision by the filing of a written appeal with the Community Development Department.
