WATERFRONT PARK/HOTEL/HOSTEL

The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort Expansion Project, approved by the City of Santa Barbara on September 23, 2025, involves a significant expansion of the hotel's facilities. The scope of work includes a 50,195-square-foot addition to Building B, the reconfiguration of six guest rooms, and the removal of two guest rooms. This expansion will increase the total hotel square footage from 329,780 to 375,708 square feet and increase the total number of guest rooms from 360 to 433. To accommodate this growth, the project requires the demolition of Building A, which contains eight guest rooms, as well as the removal of the tennis courts and a 240-square-foot tennis shop. The project also encompasses extensive site improvements, including the installation of a swimming pool, spa, lanai pools, and an outdoor fire pit lounge area with a bar. Environmental and public works include soil and groundwater remediation, storm water improvements, and new landscaping, which involves removing 22 trees, relocating 33, protecting 47, and planting 50 new trees. Regarding parking, onsite vehicle spaces will be reduced from 931 to 880, with 100 spaces allocated to the adjacent Waterfront Hotel via easement, leaving 780 spaces for the Hilton project and an additional 71 spaces provided via valet during peak events. Bicycle parking will increase from 58 to 100 spaces. The project has been certified under the California Environmental Quality Act with a Notice of Determination filed on September 24, 2025.