Remarks by Brian Barnwell
36 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 8:04
“Yes, Mr. Chair. I abstain from this. I wasn't here at that meeting.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 8:29
“Thank you. Mr. Chair, that isn't an abstention. I wasn't here, so I don't vote abstain pro or con. I just wasn't here. I'm not included in that count. Thank you.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 8:49
“We have these little Robert's Rules of Order differences, but thank you. Okay, thank you, legal counsel.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 9:04
“Yes, I would love to move those minutes. Thank you. Okay.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:09:24
“Chair a Couple there's a I'll just go through my list. There's a walk drain and floor drain, walk drain on the west side of the main building between you guys and the El Centro building as you walk down this discussed open corridor, paseo, whatever. Where does that go? I mean, where does that drain drain to? Because drainage is a big issue with you guys. So I'm curious, is it being reconstituted in some way? And it also catches the roof drip. of the old central building in that pathway. So I'm curious about that.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:10:20
“Okay. It is on your property, actually. It's on your property.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:10:32
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:11:51
“OK, because it's surprising. As you know, it's surprising how windows and doors and corners give the building its feel, even to people who don't know what they're talking about.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:12:18
“Thank you. And while I have you at the mic, if you would answer another question for me. I, have you given any thought to a historical plaque?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:12:34
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:13:34
“Well, and it gives it some depth, the building. Insofar as the plantings, are they seedless olives?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:13:58
“Okay. Yes. And the bougainvillea, because there's so many people coming and going around that thing, is it a thornless bougainvillea?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:14:10
“Okay, so I would suggest that also. Thank you very much.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:15:14
“Way back then when, yeah, we were asking for that. Yeah. Very briefly, there was a prohibition against that whole floor being used because it exceeded the height limitations. And so there was a draft in the Planning Commission Conditions of Approval said conditions of approval now lost to history. So they just go up there and have parties now willy-nilly because nobody remembers the original one.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:24:22
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am 100% in support of this in every category. Insofar as that hot topic of that pathway, that's private property, right? And there hasn't been any establishment of a public easement through that. And when you speak of it being an attractive nuisance, I have much, not a little, but much personal experience with walking down there and seeing people just spending the night, et cetera. And I agree with you. I also would send to the HLC that I think it should be open during business hours, and the rest of the time it's not, if that is the preference of the operator. And…”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:39:35
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:43:49
“Mr. Chair, is that the Presidio Springs?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:43:54
“Okay. So that's Kitty Corner from the old Tino's Market there, the Italian market, just to place it for everybody so they know where that is. Yeah. Yeah. And it comes all the way to Garden Street.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:44:07
“So, all right. Thank you very much. Did they talk about the community? There's a community meeting hall in there. Did all of that get included in the discussion?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:44:47
“Was there a discussion about the historical component of that property? Not too much. Because that's the first spring. That's where they got their first water when they came to Santa Barbara.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 44:50
“Thank you, Madam Chair. I really appreciate the numbers that you gave us that show a little bit of what we're looking at. I remember when we first discussed, not when we first, but the last discussion we had. And I carried the flag of the Planning Commission to the City Council's discussion. And I have to say in all candor, I don't think they knew what was going on. I don't think they understood the nuances of it. And that isn't to their lack of ability to understand. But I don't think the presentation to them, nor this presentation right here to us when I'm finally starting to see it, gives…”
Planning Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 48:59
“You understand that this is a public presentation on television to the city of Santa Barbara. They're not seeing those numbers. And we're making decisions on the basis of number that no one is presenting to the city. And so the city is wondering, well, how is the planning commission making this decision? How are we doing that based on numbers that are hidden into a document that aren't presented either to us or to anyone else? I just don't think. The numbers are insufficient. I'm sorry, Madam Chair.”
Planning Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 49:57
“Well, let's continue to talk about the highlights. Why isn't there a discussion about the multiplier effect of the housing authority and the in lieu fee going to that and that consequence of the in lieu fee concept? And why aren't we talking about the idea that the developers don't want government's hand in their project? And why aren't we talking about the value of the piece of real estate when it's all said and done, if it has an inclusionary unit in it, it's not 10 units, it's nine units plus an income stream. That's some strange thing that the owner is trying to offer on the open market…”
Planning Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 50:58
“But I beg to differ. I'm here to make a comment on the staff presentation. By the way, don't misunderstand me. The work you guys did is fabulous. But I don't think we have... If this was presented to us the last time, in the way that I'm discussing it, the in lieu fee going to the Housing Authority with four to 10 multiplier effect, the developers not wanting government in their hand and 10 unit being turned into a nine unit. I don't remember any of that as part of the discussion of why or why not a developer would say yes to this. Those numbers are not here.”
Planning Commission · Aug 20, 2026
- Play at 52:32
“I thank you for that answer and you brought up my next question is in ownership units middle income people are included. Would you please tell me why middle income people aren't included in this discussion having to do with rental? Why isn't the category middle income and why have we limited it to moderate income?”
Planning Commission · Aug 20, 2026