Farmers Market voices concern over potential site of new Santa Barbara police station

The potential for a new police station at the Cota Street Commuter parking lot in Santa Barbara has sparked some concern.

The lot has been the site of a popular farmers market every Saturday for the past 35-years.

Sam Edelman is the General Manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association. He said the association, at first, was not informed about the selection process.

“This could be devastating to our farmers and our community,” Edelman said.

The current police station at 215 East Figueroa Street was built in 1959 and is in desperate need of an upgrade.

City officials are looking at several locations, including the lot on Cota Street.

Robert Dautch of Earth Trine Farms has been selling his organic flowers, fruits, and vegetables on Saturdays for decades.

Dautch said building a new police station in the lot and forcing farmers to sell their goods somewhere else would be devastating.

“It would be horrible. We are a community hub. We are farmers. We are into roots. We have our roots established here,” he said.

The farmers market draws 3,000 to 5,000 people every week.

The City of Santa Barbara is hosting informational meetings regarding the site selection for the new City Police Station.

The schedule is below:

Meeting 1

5:15 – 7:00 PM Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Faulkner Gallery, Central Library
40 E. Anapamu Street

Meeting 2

5:15 – 7:00 PM Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Franklin Neighborhood Center, Multipurpose Room
1136 E. Montecito Street

Meeting 3

5:15 – 7:00 PM Thursday, November 15, 2018
La Cumbre Junior High, Multipurpose Room
2255 Modoc Road