Paseo Nuevo Redevelopment Project

2026060839

City of Santa Barbara

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/18/2026

6/18/2026

Julia Pujo

City of Santa Barbara

Environmental Analyst

Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant

P.O. Box 1990
Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1990

(805) 564-5470

jpujo@santabarbaraca.gov

34°25'7.3"N 119°42'1"W

W. Canon Perdido St. (north), State St. (east), W. Ortega St. (south), and Chapala St. (west)

93101

5.8

037-400-001; 037-400-002; 037-400-003; 037-400-004; 037-400-005; 037-400-006; and 037-400-019

U.S. 101

Union Pacific Railroad

Santa Barbara Airport

Santa Barbara Unified School District

Pacific Ocean, Arroyo Honda Creek, Laguna Creek, Mission Creek, Old Mission Creek,Sycamore Creek

4N

27W

Statutory Exemption

CEQA Section 15183

Project Description: The project will convert Paseo Nuevo into a mixed-use development by adaptively reusing the former Macy’s building for office space and the former Nordstrom building for 80 to 112 residential units, while retaining existing retail, parking, and other uses. No building footprint expansion, grading, or excavation is proposed, except for minor utility trenching and exterior and interior alterations. Discretionary Approvals: City Council must adopt Disposition and Development Agreements to implement the project. Development of the project is subject to design review by the Historic Landmarks Commission and issuance of building permits for interior and exterior modifications. Consistency with General Plan and Zoning: The project is consistent with the adopted General Plan and zoning regulations. The project is consistent with applicable goals, policies, and implementation measures of the adopted General Plan because: The project includes continuation of existing retail, parking, and other uses consistent with the City’s General Plan and zoning. The proposed mixed-use and residential uses align with the adopted Housing Element goals and the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, as well as with adopted General Plan land use designation and zoning regulations. Prior EIR Review: The environmental effects of the project were examined in the certified EIR prepared for the Plan Santa Barbara General Plan Update (State Clearinghouse No. 2009011031). The project is consistent with the density and land use assumptions analyzed in the certified General Plan EIR. Environmental Resource Evaluation: An Environmental Checklist was prepared to assess the applicable environmental resource topics and determine whether the project would result in any peculiar impacts, substantially more severe impacts, newly feasible mitigation measures or alternatives, or new significant environmental effects. The Environmental Checklist provides the basis for the environmental determination and is part of the administrative record. Environmental Determination: The City of Santa Barbara finds that impacts are not peculiar to the parcel or project, have been addressed in a prior EIR, or can be substantially mitigated with implementation of uniformly applied development policies or standards. There are no impacts peculiar to the project site that would exceed what was previously disclosed in the General Plan EIR. Further, there are no new direct or cumulatively considerable impacts of the proposed project. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21083.3 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, no further environmental review is required.