The Montecito Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the Montecito Family YMCA’s plans to renovate and expand its facilities.
The YMCA, at 591 Santa Rosa Lane, plans to expand the main building from 7,416 square feet to 10,336 square feet, demolish the current locker room to build a new one, and build a new multipurpose building. It also wants to expand its pool from five lanes to seven lanes.
Additionally, the organization plans a new parking lot that will add 42 spaces.
Ryan Power, the executive director of the YMCA, said that even though the property is nice, the facilities are “undersized and outdated.” He mentioned issues such as the building not being compliant with seismic safety standards or accessibility rules.
The board asked the YMCA to work with the community to develop construction plans that fit the needs of its neighbors.
The commission voted 4-0 to approve the plans after asking representatives and designers to make revisions requiring that any plants that are removed be replaced with native plants. The original plans included eucalyptus trees, which commissioners pushed back against because of fears about disease.
In addition to the revision to the landscaping, the commissioners asked that the YMCA make annual reports to the commission.
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