Santa Barbara City Council to receive draft of State Street Master Plan and provide direction

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) People packed the Santa Barbara City Council chambers and the overflow area to hear the final item on the agenda.

They arrived early to hear about the draft State Street Master Plan presented by Moule & Polyzoides.

The architecture and urbanism firm is based out of Pasadena.

Technical summaries included considering block by block management, converting nearby one-way streets into two way streets, initiating a plan to enable in-fill housing and reducing the time it takes to issued retail licenses.

The cost per block would be in the $6-8 million range, with a total capitol investment between $48-64 million.

Grants, bonds, and transportation funds could help pay for it.

The firm's design proposal and presentation are intended to be the framework for the revitalization of corridor.

Elements include street design, landscaping and economic analysis.

The plan is focused on the 400 to 1300 block of State Street.

The city website allows anyone to review the plan at https://StateStreet.SantaBarbaraCA.gov

When the council provides final direction the plan will go to committees and commissions including the Historic Landmark Commission, Planning Commission and Access Advisory Committee.

The city council intends to vote on a final Master Plan in August.

If the timeline goes as planned, an engineering phase could being in early 2027.

Your News Channel will have more on the draft Master Plan's reception tonight on the news.