City planning staff told the Solvang Design Review Committee on Oct. 16, 2025 that the 1704 Mission project remains under a stop-work order and must submit plan revisions to address building-code and accessibility deficiencies before full exterior work may resume.

At the meeting, Rafael Castillo summarized City Council action on a related appeal and detailed the issues that triggered the stop-work order. Castillo said Council voted Monday to uphold the director's determination. He told the committee the stop-work order relates to violations that include Americans with Disabilities Act obligations for path of travel, stormwater regulation compliance and changes to the approved floor plan. "...the path of travel. That is a federal law," Castillo said, stressing the matter involves legal requirements rather than design preference.

Castillo said the applicant does not currently own the two properties involved: the Archdiocese owns the cottages on Mission, and a separate family owns the old bank building. The applicant is negotiating purchase of the bank property and has requested a phased approach that would remove the drive-through elements and open a market as a tenant improvement without any exterior window or door changes. Castillo said that type of interior tenant-improvement could go directly to building permit if it contains no exterior alterations, but any exterior changes not matching the approved plans would require an immediate amendment and return to the DRC.

Staff explained the project's development permit has a two-year lifespan; if substantial exterior work is not started the permit can expire (applicants may request an extension). Castillo emphasized the city will not consider the project fully vested by carrying out interior work alone: exterior facade elements, particularly windows and half-timbering on the west façade facing the cottages, are expected to return to the DRC for review if changed.

Castillo said city staff will require plan revisions, and building and public-works reviews must clear before the stop-work order is lifted and exterior construction can continue. "...there's a lot of work that's ahead. You won't see hammers being out there," he said, explaining staff must ensure compliance with access and stormwater laws before allowing further construction.

No formal action was taken by the committee on this project at the meeting; staff reported the status and next steps.