Notes From the 10-16-06 MPC Hearing

October 17th, 2006

Staff for the Montecito Planning Commission began the meeting with an overview of Westmont’s revised campus Master Plan and then recommended approval of it.

Staff reported that the current proposal leaves 91 acres of the campus as landscaping or open space and that there was a reduction of 20,000 ground square feet of construction from the previous plan. Much of the proposed grading has been reduced as well because of the elimination of a proposed two level parking garage.

All of the buildings except for the proposed new chapel are below Montecito’s new height restrictions.

The college is also proposing longer quiet periods between construction phases and an ultimate traffic cap. To alleviate all traffic concerns, college officials has agreed to a cap of 3,500 average daily trips(ADTs) during the academic weekdays and 2,500 ADTs during all other times.

Currently the college operates under a conditional use permit with 31 conditions. The proposed plan includes 116 conditions conditions which include everything to lighting, grading to the hiring of a full-time environmental monitor to ensure compliance of all conditions during the construction period.

Some of the most exciting moments of Westmont’s presentation were delivered by the architectural team which designed the proposed chapel. Michael Cranfill of Pfeiffer Partners said he designed the chapel in a way that would extract the feeling of being uplifted. The use of stone, lumber and open spaces are tied to many different Christian images, he said.

About half a dozen people spoke during the public comment period before the meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.

The public will be given more of an opportunity to speak on the plan at the MPC meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 9 a.m.