HE-1: Adaptive Reuse Ordinance
Summary
SCH Number
2025101052
Public Agency
City of Santa Barbara
Document Title
HE-1: Adaptive Reuse Ordinance
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/22/2025
Document Description
This project is the adoption of an adaptive reuse ordinance to facilitate conversion of nonresidential buildings to housing.
Contact Information
Name
Julia Pujo
Agency Name
City of Santa Barbara
Job Title
Environmental Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Dana Falk
Agency Name
City of Santa Barbara
Job Title
Project Planner
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Santa Barbara
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Citywide
Parcel #
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Section § 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Staff has determined this action qualifies for an exemption from further environmental review under Section 15061(b)(3) [General Rule] of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance will not have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed adaptive reuse ordinance establishes a regulatory framework for converting existing structures to residential or mixed-use development and does not directly approve or authorize any specific construction, nor does it grant entitlements or directly result in any physical changes to the environment. Staff evaluated the ordinance in terms of land use, unit quantities, additions to the building envelope, and potentially contaminated soils.
• Change in Use: Adaptive reuse projects are simply a subset of change in use projects that are allowed under the current zoning ordinance. Existing structures are already allowed to convert from a nonresidential use to residential units, consistent with General Plan land use designations. The ordinance does not change allowed uses in a zone and, therefore, does not result in any new impacts compared to the existing regulatory setting.
• Residential Unit Quantities: In adaptive reuse projects, the number of new residential units is limited by the size of the existing building envelope and building code standards, rather than by density limitations. These units replace existing nonresidential uses, potentially resulting in lower environmental impacts compared to existing conditions. The number of units facilitated by the adaptive reuse ordinance is not anticipated to exceed any established regional growth forecasts or the Regional Housing Needs Allocation; therefore, the proposed ordinance would not have any growth-inducing impacts.
• Existing Building Envelope: Any project altering the façade or adding floor area outside the existing building envelope requires discretionary design review under the current zoning ordinance, which would be subject to site-specific environmental review. This requirement remains unchanged for adaptive reuse projects; therefore, the ordinance would not approve physical changes that would result in environmental impacts without site-specific environmental review.
• Environmental Review: Adaptive reuse projects requiring a discretionary entitlement will continue to be subject to environmental review. For projects that do not trigger discretionary review, environmental requirements remain the same as for other allowed change in use projects, with one exception: if an adaptive reuse project involves foundation work or soil disturbance in areas where contaminated fill may be present, the appropriate agency must determine that the site is suitable for residential occupancy. This new requirement would increase safety from hazardous sites for adaptive reuse projects. As written, the proposed ordinance provides an added environmental safeguard related to public health protection, further reducing the possibility of adverse environmental effects.
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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