The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board granted preliminary approval Oct. 16 to a broad exterior renovation of the Shepherd Place Apartments, a 7.36-acre, 12-building complex to be rebranded as Casitas Del Mar. The proposal includes new landscaping, lighting, signage, repaving and restriping, replacement of problematic trees, new amenities (a barbecue area, dog park and passive gathering spaces), and security gates at the two vehicle entryways.

City planner Mindy Fogg presented a site summary and design intent, and described the principal issues that brought the project to ARB: the site contains 219 trees, many of which are unhealthy or too close to buildings, and applicants report storm and maintenance issues leading to urgent removals. The project proposes to retain 146 existing trees, retroactively approve 24 urgent removals, remove 49 additional trees identified by an arborist, and add 14 new native trees (for an overall decrease from 219 to 145 trees on site). The applicant team emphasized water-conserving planting, removal of invasive species where necessary, and improved site drainage.

Architect Michael Holiday (DMHA) and landscape architect Courtney Miller (CJM LA) described the proposed site organization, new community spaces, permeable paving in key locations, upgraded night-sky-friendly lighting, and two gates that would be open daytime and closed at night for security. Miller said tree removals were driven by an arborist’s rating (A–F) and that the project focused on removing trees rated D and F and other specimens that posed life-safety risks or were dead or dying.

Board members asked for clarifications on several items: whether the 24 already-removed trees included protected species (the applicant identified one Platanus hispanica among those), the permanence and photometric characteristics of proposed string lighting, and whether added gates might affect pedestrian circulation. Members suggested upsizing a newly proposed replacement tree from a 24-inch to a 36-inch box (in another project later the board made a similar change), asked the applicant to show actual paver samples and fixture locations on photometric plans, and recommended ribbons or on-site markings on trees proposed for removal so neighbors can see which trees are scheduled to go.

Public comments included nearby residents expressing concern about fencing and lighting spillover and a request to preserve an on-site rose garden. City staff said photometric plans are required and that landscape/ lighting details will be checked for spillover at property lines in accordance with city code. The board’s preliminary approval was accompanied by requests for more detailed final plans showing fixed fixture locations and photometrics, clarification of tree-protection and replacement details, and confirmation of the location and design of gates and circulation.

The applicants were asked to return for final review with refined photometric plans, detailed planting and irrigation specifications, confirmation of the proposed tree removals and replacements tied to the arborist report, and renderings or samples for new hardscape, gate and kiosk materials.