Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service.
SANTA BARBARA, CA – September 25, 2025
The City of Santa Barbara is pleased to announce the appointment of Allison DeBusk as its new Community Development Director. DeBusk brings over two decades of planning experience, including more than 20 years with the City of Santa Barbara. She has distinguished herself in positions of increasing responsibility, advancing from Assistant Planner to City Planner, demonstrating a deep commitment to public service and excellence in urban planning. Currently managing the Planning Division, she oversees zoning, development and environmental review, design review and historic preservation, and long-range planning. DeBusk is the Acting Community Development Director and will transition into the full-time role effective September 30, 2025.
DeBusk holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California, San Diego, where she graduated with departmental honors. She also completed minors in Economics, Psychology, and Spanish Literature—an academic foundation that reflects her well-rounded approach to community development and public engagement…