Fifty Condos Coming to Santa Barbara’s North La Cumbre Road

July 5, 2026 - 20:05

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has given the green light for a new 50-unit condominium project on North La Cumbre Road. The development will rise on the former site of Hope Community Church, a property that has sat vacant for several years.

The approved plan calls for a three-story, use-by-right building. This designation means the project meets existing zoning codes and does not require special discretionary permits or a lengthy public hearing process beyond the tract map approval. The commission voted to approve the final tract map, which divides the parcel into individual condo lots and establishes the common areas.

The project is expected to bring much-needed for-sale housing to a market dominated by rentals and single-family homes. While the development is use-by-right, planners noted that the design includes a mix of two- and three-bedroom units, along with on-site parking and landscaping buffers to fit the surrounding neighborhood.

Some nearby residents voiced concerns about traffic and the building's height during the commission's review. However, staff pointed out that the project complies with the county's general plan and zoning ordinances, limiting the commission's ability to deny the map change. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, pending final building permits.