Rivian presents airport‑area dealership concept; board raises circulation and compatibility concerns

Rivian representatives presented a one‑time pre‑application consultation Jan. 20 for a revised automobile dealership on Santa Barbara Airport property, seeking early feedback before a formal planning application. The applicant described consolidating prior multiple‑building approvals into a single building with front‑of‑house customer lounge, back‑of‑house service and interior wash bays. The team emphasized the facility would service electric vehicles only and would not include collision repair or combustion‑engine servicing.

Board members and staff focused comments on site circulation and the need to demonstrate functional service layouts (customer drop‑off, interior drive‑in or exterior drop‑off, number and location of drive‑in doors), parking and landscape coordination (including where trash, ground‑mounted HVAC and staging will be located), and material choices. Some members said the building could fit the industrial/airport context if materials and detailing were carefully calibrated to reflect Santa Barbara character; others said the currently proposed deep red/wood palette reads as “placeless” and suggested exploring lighter, more local precedents.

Rivian noted an aggressive schedule tied to an entitlement extension expiring Feb. 8, 2027, and said the team will incorporate board feedback into the formal submittal.