Spanish Colonial Revival Housing Project on West Montecito Street Wins Unanimous Board Approval

The City of Santa Barbara’s Architectural Board of Review unanimously approved the final design for a residential project at 308 West Montecito Street, clearing the way for six two-story duplex buildings.

At the January 20 meeting, board members approved the construction of six two-story duplex buildings, totaling 12 residential units with an average size of 737 square feet.

The site is currently used as a surface parking lot and contains no existing residential structures.

Before granting final approval, the board imposed two conditions: all windows throughout the development must be recessed, and all bathroom windows must include an inset panel to preserve a square visual proportion.

The project is being developed under the city’s Average Unit-Size Density Incentive Program and the state Density Bonus Law.

As part of the final review, several design changes were made, including redesigning the main pedestrian walkway from a straight path to a meandering route. Landscaping was also revised, with Tristania trees replaced by Podocarpus following earlier board feedback.

Additional revisions were made to improve trash and service access. The trash room entrance was reconfigured, replacing the roll-up garage-style door with a standard access door, and a connected walkway was added through the parkway to improve access during trash collection.

Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the project was described by board members as a series of “little jewel boxes” suited to the site’s compact size. The design emphasizes traditional detailing while maintaining a cohesive appearance across all buildings.

Additional adjustments addressed both safety and aesthetics. Weather coverings at second-floor entries were redesigned after head-clearance concerns were raised, replacing the original bracket system with a post-and-header design. Railings were also updated to a “saw-tooth” profile to better screen handrails and create cleaner sightlines.

Decorative elements play a prominent role in the design, including tile inlays set into plaster, stair-stepped guardrails, and tiled porch details. The exterior will feature a stucco finish, accented with Benjamin Moore’s “Sunny Days” yellow on select window frames and solid-color tiles.

The project previously received preliminary approval and was initially scheduled for a final hearing in September. According to applicant representative Lonnie Roy, the review was delayed due to a presentation upload issue in the city’s Aella system, as well as coordination with the Creeks Division related to stormwater requirements.