Village Beat
WELLNESS WEEK featuring health and wellness workshops by Palma Collective • Linda Ross Skincare Mandala Guru Renate Hume • Magic Hour Tea
November 7th–9th, 2023
Ghost Village Road by Kelly Mahan Herrick
C
oast Village Road’s popular trickor-treating event, Ghost Village Road, is happening next week, from 3 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday, October 31. The event attracts roughly 2,000 costumed kids and their parents each year. Many of the Lower Village’s business owners report they will take part in the festivities, passing out candy and other treats to trick-or-treaters, a tradition that has been happening for over 25 years. The event, which now happens organically after first being organized by the Coast Village Business Association back in 1996, is one of the most popular Halloween activities in the area. While not officially sponsored by any organization, the Coast Village Improvement Association’s Executive Director Beth Sullivan says the event is a great time to come out and visit the business owners along the road. “The heart of Coast Village Road beats with the generosity of its businesses; may every trick-or-treater feel its warmth in this special celebration,” she said. Sullivan also says Montecito Fire Protection District will have a presence on the road, passing out candy from their fire engines. Safety is the number one priority during the event, and drivers are urged to use care when driving in the area. The event is from 3 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday, October 31.
New Miramar Project at MBAR
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Montecito JOURNAL
@belmondelencanto
Representatives of Rick Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar Resort were in front of the Montecito Board of Architectural Review (MBAR) last week showing conceptual plans of a new proposal that would include residential housing and new retail shops. Caruso’s Senior Vice President of Development Bryce Ross told the Board that the new expansion project was born out of the desire to add new employee housing on site as part of the Santa Barbara County Housing Element. In order to add new housing units for employees, the resort site would need to be reconfigured by relocating parking from the corner of South Jameson and Eucalyptus to the eastern portion of the property; significant utilities would also need to be relocated, according to project representatives. The project includes the addition of 16 employee housing units (adding to the
EE Montecito Journal Wellness Week halfpage 4.863x11.631 vertical ad 1023 v5.indd 1 to have one person10/20/23 4:05 “It is better working with youPMthan three people working for you.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower
Take a walk along Ghost Village Road this Halloween (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
four already on site), and the units would be a mix of studios and family units. The units would be located on the eastern portion of the property, and some would be located over storage areas. A parking deck is planned behind the units. On the western portion of the property (the corner of Eucalyptus and South Jameson), 12 resort-style shops, including a café and a grab-and-go eatery, would be built, with 15 “resort apartments” built above, on the second and third floor. These market rate apartments would offer longterm tenants the ability to “live at the Miramar,” with access to the amenities of the Resort. These units also contribute to Housing Element numbers, according to Ross. “The new construction will be absolutely consistent with the Miramar’s architectural style, finishes, quality of construction, and aesthetic,” Ross said. Landscaping, building orientation, and color palette will feel like a natural extension of the current resort, according to reps. According to County staff, modifications will be required for the new project’s height restrictions and setback requirements. There will be 482 parking spaces on the project site after the proposed development is built, but all parking on the site, including the employee housing, will be valet parking. Several neighbors spoke at the meeting, voicing concern over construction inconvenience, parties on the beach, lighting on the beach, parking, and incompatibility with the neighborhood. Four letters in support of the project were also submitted to MBAR. MBAR members voiced concern over the size, bulk, and scale of the new buildings, which will be three stories on the corner of South Jameson and Eucalyptus. Others said parking and traffic are potential issues, and the location of the employee housing facing the freeway is of concern. MBAR member Claire Gottsdanker, who sat
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26 October – 2 November 2023