A proposed 250-room hotel in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone stalled during last week’s city Planning Commission meeting, and the developers behind the project were told to foot the bill for a more in-depth study into how the hotel would impact the city’s housing crisis while city staff take a deeper look into whether the project qualifies for an exemption from environmental review.
The project has been years in the making, with longtime property owner Bill Wright contending that the city agreed for a 250-room hotel at the location in its Specific Plan in 1983. Forty years later, the development is struggling to win over city leadership, especially in the face of concerns over the city’s housing crisis and environmental impacts.
Back in April, the Planning Commission attempted to address these concerns, with Commissioner Devon Wardlow suggesting that, due to the current housing climate, the development team consider a housing analysis or at least include employee housing with the project.