Changes planned for downtown Santa Barbara promenade

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The look of downtown Santa Barbara is in transition and the design is possibly getting an upgrade from where it's been for several weeks in the new promenade area.

Tuesday, the Santa Barbara City Council will discuss new lighting and intersection changes.

That could include string lighting on every block in the corridor, in addition to the lights already in place at businesses, mainly restaurants.

At the end of each block, small palms on wooden pallets are slumping and in need of care. The suggestion there is for large flower pots.

All designs will allow room for emergency vehicles, bikes and pedestrians.

Bicycle riders have been asked to hold their speeds to 5 miles per hour and in the 500 block they are required to walk their bikes due to the heavy use by the public on foot.

The full city report on the plan can be found here: Santa Barbara City Council agenda - Promenade.

Changes may be decided by the full City Council without a review by the Historic Landmarks Commission, although that panel has expressed a more active interest in the changes taking place in the downtown core.

The City Council meets via zoom at 2 p.m. from Santa Barbara City Hall.