Review Board Examines BevMo!

Plans to open a BevMo! liquor outlet at the site of a former furniture on the corner of State and De la Vina Streets were indefinitely continued by the Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review pending redesign of the project. Some neighbors have objected to the presence of a mega liquor store near an already problematic intersection, but city traffic planners claim the change of use from furniture store to liquor outlet will not affect traffic. Members of the ABR asked BevMo!’s agents to redesign the project to put a pedestrian entrance on State Street. City planners contend the new store is permitted under existing zoning, but some neighbors object it would diminish the quality of the neighborhood.