Lakeview project gets another go 'round with planning commission

Lakeview project gets another go 'round with planning commission

By Julian J. Ramos/Staff Writer

The Lakeview Promenade project will return to the Santa Maria Planning Commission in October after the City Council has adopted two components of the mixed-use project at the northwest corner of South Broadway and Skyway Drive.

This week, the commission approved a zoning change and General Plan amendment related to the proposal for more than 260 condominiums, retail and restaurant space, a movie theater and a health center.

At a public hearing Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved the rezoning of 3.8 acres of the 9.4-acre site from community commercial to high-denisty residential.

Plans for the 3.8-acre site include three residential buildings, a common open space area, a community building and a 284-space underground parking structure. The remaining 6.65-acre area would include nine buildings for residential, retail commercial, office and entertainment uses.

Developer Greg Nester's proposal for the former Renfrow Airport Auto Center site includes 263 condominiums, 39,447 square feet of retail space, 13,933 square feet of restaurant space, a 250-seat movie theater and 13,799 square feet of spa/fitness/physical healthcare space.

The residential portion is proposed for six buildings, and 78 of the 263 units are proposed as senior units. The buildings, which would include some residences above retail space, would have a maximum building height of 60 feet. There would be up to 966 residents.

A pair of streets on the property, Mercury Drive to the north and Auto Park Drive to the west, would be renamed Villa Drive and Lakeview Promenade Drive, respectively.

Two other items related to the project, the planned development permit and the tentative tract map, are scheduled to come back to the commission on Oct. 15 after the City Council has adopted the environmental impact report and General Plan amendment and zone change.

In public comment, speakers expressed concerns about the project's density and traffic impacts.

One of the major proposed mitigation measures is a new stop light - paid for by the applicant - at the intersection of Skyway Drive and Autopark Drive, just west of the property. The light would be coordinated with the nearby stop light at Skyway Drive and Broadway.

A flashing yellow light at the existing sidewalk at the Lakeview Road and Marvin Street intersection and a bus shelter and bus pull-out at Skyway Drive and Autopark Drive also will be funded by the applicant.

One speaker said there should be a consideration for low income residents.

Deborah Braskett of the Santa Barbara County Action Network said there should be an accommodation for affordable units in the project. At present, there are none in the plans and there never have been.

Commissioner Etta Waterfield said the project has always been intended as an “upscale development.”

Julian J. Ramos can be reached at 739-2219 or at jramos@santamariatimes.com.