Public commenters push equity review and some urge permanent car-free State Street

Santa Barbara — During the Planning Commission’s May 21 hearing on the draft State Street Master Plan, two public commenters highlighted competing priorities for the corridor’s future.

Sarah Ayanna, executive director of Move Santa Barbara County, supported the plan’s pedestrian-first focus and bicycle access but urged a careful look at who pays for major infrastructure investments. "Assessment districts and bond mechanisms are powerful tools to help bring this plan to life," she said, "but major infrastructure investments can drive up property values in ways that push costs onto small-business tenants and working-class residents." Ayanna urged the city to conduct an "explicitly equity-centered analysis of the financing strategy" before approving a funding plan.

Sullivan Israel, speaking for Strong Towns, told commissioners that many petition signatories want State Street kept car-free permanently — allowing only deliveries and emergency vehicles. He praised the consultant team’s design work but urged the commission "to recommend that cars are never allowed on the street." Staff and commissioners discussed vehicle-hours options and emphasized that the draft plan seeks operational flexibility rather than a final determination at this hearing.

Next steps: Staff said the public comment period on the draft plan runs through June 30 and that staff will return with more detailed engineering and policy recommendations ahead of a council decision this summer.