Santa Barbara City Council Votes to Keep State Street Closed to Vehicles and Support Outdoor Dining Facilities

On June 27, the Chamber supported the closure of State Street and the continuation of outdoor dining facilities. The Santa Barbara City Council voted 5-2 to keep State Street closed to vehicular traffic until December 31, 2026, or until the implementation of the State Street Master Plan, whichever comes first. The council also voted 6-1 to create a public right-of-way parklet design program for parklets outside of the promenade.

The Chamber has and continues to support outdoor dining downtown. While there are still challenges ahead, and current conditions are not ideal, downtown State Street is still thriving in many ways. The Chamber continues to advocate for a more data driven approach to the State Street Master Plan, so that the final plan creates a downtown that allows all downtown businesses to prosper.