If the Old Town Orcutt commercial area were to double in size, the parking demand would still fall within peak capacity, with spaces left over, according to a recently completed traffic study.
The study aims to assist in future decisions on development in Old Town, and is scheduled to be received Tuesday by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
The report, prepared by engineering consultants Penfield and Smith, does not contain any new policy information, according to the staff report presented to supervisors.
It contains analysis of existing conditions, what the conditions may be like in 10 years, and when the buildout contained in the Orcutt and Santa Maria Community Plans comes to pass.
The study area is bordered by Highway 1 to the west, Highway 135 to the east, North Avenue to the north and Union Avenue to the south, and includes the Old Town Orcutt Pedestrian Area.
It was initiated by the board in July 2006, when Clark Avenue was restripped from four to two lanes.
Numerous residents submitted comments that said Clark is more dangerous with two lanes and the additional horizontal parking, but Penfield and Smith responded that the California Highway Patrol accident data do not indicate an increase in collision rates.
Other letters urged county staff to consider a localized parking lot because of concerns that the residential streets would be crowded with visiting vehicles.
The current and future peak parking numbers listed in the report did include available off- and on-street parking, and the demand was only approximately 35 percent of the supplied spaces.
If the supervisors follow staff’s recommendation, the next step would be an amendment to the Orcutt Community Plan and other community specific plans in order to maintain consistency.
The supervisors also will hear a report on onshore oil facilities at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Betteravia Government Center at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria.
Sam Womack can be reached at 739-2218 or
swomack@santamariatimes.com.
September 22, 2008
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