Target inching forward to bring store to Goleta

Target is inching forward with plan to bring Southern Santa Barbara County a store.

Target representatives submitted 31 pages of maps and renderings and met with the Goleta Review Board on Tuesday.

“I heard this a long time ago that we were going to build a Target, but it’s not going to happen. I hope it’s going to happen this year or a couple years from now. We have to have a Target here,” said Manny Manalumpot, a Goleta resident.

The big question is: when will it happen?

“The City of Goleta can’t speculate on a date at this time given the length of the environmental review process that’s required by state law, but we are committed to helping Target work through that process to create the best store that we can,” said Jennifer Carman, planning and environmental review director.

It is a slow process and the retail giant hasn’t completed the full application yet.

The proposed development would start at the corner of Los Carneros Drive and Calle Koral and end near the corner of Los Carneros Way and Hollister Avenue.

The building would be two stories with the bottom floor for parking.

“It’s interesting, it’s kind of in an area with not a lot of retail around it. That might be a good thing,” said Lynn Jorgensen as she looked at the proposed site.

For people who work in the area, Target would make a great lunchtime hang-out.

“We could walk across the street, go to their food court or buy clothes or whatever,” said Debbie Stanfeld with a laugh.

The closest Target stores to Goleta are in Ventura and Santa Maria, but that doesn’t deter people from making the trip.

“I know a lot of people say, ‘keep the dollars local’ and so forth but I know a lot of people who go down to Ventura to the Walmart and the Target because of the deals they can get down there and the options,” said Pamela Beckley, a Goleta resident.

Although there is no timeline yet for the store, eager shoppers will be waiting.

“The City of Goleta is really excited about Target wanting to have a location within the City of Goleta and we’re looking forward to working very closely with them to facilitate a project that works well with the community,” said Carman.