[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6381355,"mediaKeyId","2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f","parentId",2128422,"title","Residents raise traffic, scale and design concerns as Buellton staff preview Highway 246 and Avenue of the Flags projects","audioSeconds",925,"startMs",781000,"endMs",1706000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f&start=781&end=1706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f/thumbnail_781000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381355/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Residents-raise-traffic-scale-and-design-concerns-as-Buellton-staff-preview-Highway-246-and-Avenue-of-the-Flags-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381355-709bd4de12aede9d3cb91d62f2c8560c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206480&Signature=KSf~KJ2cWqaHiH6IwUV0miAOMI9f0dDM4VAbUk7FJhjzKyr4KZ6AeXzFK6hsPpeUkdufxUowhlDsp6xDP0tlGXq8Eblh94Dl5ztn3qL1RkvI1bIDLD3LUkL2ZFHWllmTCT0qfoKUMieyZLlX58tTOm9a7dhMJMTIbaBrg3JMqUf3eHLdlu7UOSSeNGhiWfhqYUR2fDxLCu-fO0-PIdcJP-4Ncv5miH3iAeFclowHm8p4RO63E61LjbbUONjlBnHZT70lbWTWAuev7fqUM1HS4i9GuJTN3BpZaZsvuE4PI62J9MMT4cUtYLMvl4UScyt0TLRKuaBMpOoWHbC5kg9QWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Buellton CA","date","2025-01-18T17:01:49.387Z","article","A resident and Green Team member told the Buellton City Planning Commission she is concerned that proposed projects along Avenue of the Flags and Highway 246 would be out of character and create traffic problems, and planning staff said conceptual plans have been submitted and that a traffic study and a specific plan amendment will be part of the review.

Theresa Riley, who said she lives in Ranch Club Estates and serves on the Green Team when she can, told commissioners she and other neighbors worry about building height, density and traffic around planned projects on Avenue of the Flags. \"4 stories is much too high,\" Riley said, describing the neighborhood context as mostly two- and three-story buildings and saying the community wants pedestrian-friendly streets with landscaping and places to sit.

Riley also criticized a proposed 30-foot-tall novelty coffee-pot feature and warned a drive-through at the Highway 246 Commercial Center could back traffic onto the avenue, citing the traffic issues that arose when a drive-through opened on Upper State Street.

Planning staff told the commission the Anderson site (formerly a restaurant) has concept plans posted on the Buellton Engage page and is anticipated to return to the planning commission and city council in the coming months for public hearings. Staff said the Highway 246 Commercial Center application is in plan-review and that the city is working through the scope of a traffic study; staff also said a drive-through would require a specific plan amendment because the existing specific plan does not allow drive-throughs.

Staff noted the Arco AMPM gas station project at the north end of the avenue is expected to be scheduled for a public hearing within the next month, and that the Highway 246 project will undergo further review prior to any public hearing. Planning staff invited residents to review concept materials on the city engagement page and to contact the planning department for specifics.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buellton - Planning Commission Meeting January 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents urged caution about the scale and traffic impact of proposed mixed-use and commercial projects along Avenue of the Flags and Highway 246; planning staff said concept plans have been posted and that a traffic study and a specific plan amendment for a proposed drive-through are part of the review process.","taxTitle","Buellton City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",72226,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381360,"Buellton planning commission appoints two members to Green Team; chair election deferred",260,502000,762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f&start=502&end=762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f/thumbnail_502000.jpg","/articles/6381360/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-planning-commission-appoints-two-members-to-Green-Team-chair-election-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381360-44d5cda49ca958dcb1e21fa031cd4295/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206480&Signature=ZbIiOz8ETxoID5AxTuZEOBUKCDMhzWKDRTA1WlhP8o22BX203-vrkt4meu2RBcxiRIVxthRa4318MT2YTWHQLfVHLqGcHMKzfxjK~lQjltLc8559Q8UyzpdMAtLVBHeLJSFWhflRpr7t7E4JsEHoL~nKBLs9ItQYvPhGbsxDrsZMqouj4MiYEDL0DNhEdku2lcVybyNrnJb1Cdhkma1aSMcpdru4QzdTJ5~4ttuRiE5vg~oOEXRxKiUzdT5MFO7J-OdZ4L7JrfhwvDY4R1FQFFb6GuvBEkqGIBWZ2xNujJPJwtyF1Po81geBnh30rqVJT1-CCKqI3Z4EkvJOGKuNgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vice Chair Rees and Commissioner Campbell were appointed as the planning commissions appointees to the Buellton Green Team after a motion and unanimous voice vote.

The Green Team nomination was moved and seconded during the meeting; Commissioners present voted Aye and the motion passed. The commission also decided to delay the formal election of chair and vice chair until the next meeting so the body can consider the full five-member roster when appointing officers.

City planning staff described the Green Team as a citizen-led advisory group that meets roughly every other month by Zoom and discusses environmental initiatives proposed by residents. Planning staff said meetings are typically 3 to 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of alternating months and that the group is intended to be \"citizen led, but city driven,\" with commissioners able to bring ideas from the Green Team back to the planning commission for consideration.

The commission discussed whether to conduct officer elections at the current meeting or wait until a full commission is seated. One commissioner offered to chair meetings on an interim basis until the vacancy is filled. Planning staff recorded the decision to place election of chair and vice chair on the following planning commission agenda.

The appointment vote and the minutes approval earlier in the meeting were taken under standard procedural rules; staff confirmed commissioners who had listened to the meeting audio or reviewed minutes were able to vote in the absence of one member.

The meeting packet and staff contact information on Buelltons engagement page list Green Team meeting dates and participation instructions; staff invited commissioners and residents to contact the planning department for more information.

","Vice Chair Rees and Commissioner Campbell were appointed as the planning commissions two representatives to the citizen-led Green Team. The commission deferred election of chair and vice chair until its next meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381350,"Buellton staff reports three affordable housing projects under construction and launches two-year general plan update",0,1548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f&start=1548&end=1548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2128422-87e37aa95cef9f93965f1cf0b8cf837f/thumbnail_1548000.jpg","/articles/6381350/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-staff-reports-three-affordable-housing-projects-under-construction-and-launches-two-year-general-plan-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381350-f85b7b30539c2e5a1af0d9c3dc4ab764/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206480&Signature=Tqv0U4elBPrzP33XmPUvRrcjFHpTyabd1Umv-NAB0mFvE58Cw-SOI1xYSLN0bD9-0ecFuPWmZynOnlRbic3M4iyaw9tgVA0eipxFIZFzIBFG-orrIuJ4fD4bAEv9U2MXBVGPdkGzI44lgBq0WLBYRJjgKD0dzKEeWqOpvAOBMMl3eSsaDykwVZX82VECg-nFqmxzQ6Uq-EoAlfDwJ0kCNsPJZ8Bvf9TM180khzWt~w~JK4zHYTN~uF3ivWuR2~b7eAxutgxuWzYBsDpnf8NPA8yRP-4Uq7SYeemvNhqJxoVUI9R1BBBo0~tMN7QFMCIDZGtA50U3fw6vlY8nG4FbTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff told the Buellton Planning Commission the department is tracking multiple active construction projects, several expired applications, and a major long-range planning effort to update the citys general plan.

Staff reported three multifamily housing projects under construction along McMurray Road: Village Senior Apartments (50 affordable senior apartments north of Village Park), Polo Village (near completion; interior work underway), and the Buellton Garden Apartments (listed in the packet as 89 affordable units at the south end of McMurray Road). The packet also showed several previously listed projects that have since been withdrawn or expired, including a gymnastics studio application and a bowling-alley project.

Planning staff said the Home2 Suites and Hyatt Place hotel project in the Village Specific Plan area is close to building-permit readiness, pending several items the city is working through with the applicant.

On long-range planning, staff said the city will begin a comprehensive update to the Buellton general plan, a process expected to take about two years. Staff plans to post materials to the city website and Buellton Engage page, distribute an initial public survey by QR code and provide hard-copy forms in the planning office. The commission will be involved throughout the process.

Staff also said concept plans for \"Median 3\" (a landscaped median near Village Park that has been discussed previously and that conceptually included a small museum, walking paths and a small amphitheater) will be returned to the commission in response to prior comments. Finally, staff said it is working on zoning ordinance amendments connected to the citys housing element and on revising the ADU ordinance in response to HCD comments.

Staff encouraged commissioners and residents to contact the planning department for project details, to view posted materials on Buellton Engage, and to take part in upcoming volunteer cleanup events discussed at the Green Team meeting.

","Planning staff told the commission that three multifamily projects along McMurray Road are under construction (including 50 senior affordable units and an 89-unit affordable complex), several applications have expired, and the city will begin a roughly two-year comprehensive general plan update with a public survey.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents raise traffic, scale and design concerns as Buellton staff preview Highway 246 and Avenue of the Flags projects

Buellton planning commission appoints two members to Green Team; chair election deferred

Buellton staff reports three affordable housing projects under construction and launches two-year general plan update