Virtual Town Hall to Tackle Senate Housing Bills and Impacts in Santa Barbara County Local legislators, Santa Barbara council members to help explain how measures would affect planning decisions and neighborhood character Bills making their way through the Legislature could make it easier for developers to build housing in Santa Barbara and every other city in the state, a move that local officials say strips them of their control of their planning process and will radically redefine their community character. (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo) By Joshua Molina, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @JECMolina May 16, 2021 | 11:50 p.m. Elected officials from throughout the region will come together virtually Wednesday to talk about two potentially impactful housing bills heading toward votes in the Legislature.