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Board of Supervisors — 2024-03-19

Board of Supervisors — 2024-03-19March 19, 2024

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BodyBoard of Supervisors
MeetingRegular Meeting
Date📅 March 19, 2024

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Meeting Summary

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Present: Williams, 2-Capps, 3-Hartmann, 4-Nelson, 5-Lavagnino

This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.

At a glance

Workshop Overview and Process Criteria

  • The Board held an informational workshop to review potential rezone sites for the Regional Housing Needs Allocation.
  • Staff outlined established criteria requiring increased affordable units, non-profit partnerships, and transit corridor alignment.
  • No formal actions or votes were scheduled, with future hearings planned for late March and early April.

South County Site Proposals

  • Developers presented eight proposals ranging from 173 to 1,200 units across Carpinteria Valley, Goleta, and Orcutt.
  • Plans include significant affordable housing components through partnerships with the Housing Authority and local employers.
  • Several projects utilize SB 330 streamlining or propose preserving substantial open space alongside residential density.

UCSB Housing Initiatives

  • University representatives detailed four active housing projects totaling over 3,700 beds under existing entitlements.
  • Presentations covered student housing expansions and faculty workforce housing developments including single-family homes.
  • The Ocean Road Project is currently seeking a new development partner to proceed with rental and for-sale units.

North County Site Proposals

  • Six proposals were presented for sites in Lompoc and Orcutt, including mixed-use infill and workforce housing projects.
  • Developers discussed zoning adjustments for apartment complexes, townhomes, and commercial components.
  • One applicant filed a Builder's Remedy application due to water policy restrictions while requesting collaborative rezoning.

Public Comment and Board Discussion

  • Stakeholders raised concerns regarding the enforceability of affordability commitments and infrastructure capacity impacts.
  • Board members inquired about design integration, renewable energy requirements, and coordination between adjacent projects.
  • Staff clarified that only ordinance changes can legally lock in affordability requirements rather than verbal agreements.

Closed Session

  • No closed session report was included in this meeting summary.

Full summary

Agenda Item: Workshop on Potential Rezone Sites for the County Housing Element

  • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors convened a workshop to receive presentations from property owners and developers regarding potential rezone sites intended to meet the county's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The Chair clarified that the session was for informational purposes only, with no formal actions, motions, or votes scheduled. The Planning Development Department provided an overview of the process, noting that the Board had previously established rezone criteria in January 2024. These criteria included requirements for exceeding minimum affordable unit counts, partnering with non-profits or local employers, conforming to community plans, providing on-site amenities, and locating sites along transit corridors. The Department outlined an upcoming schedule involving Planning Commission hearings on March 27 and April 1, followed by Board rezone hearings.

South County Site Presentations

  • Representatives presented proposals for several sites in the South County area:
  • Baylord Site: Redtail Multifamily Land Development and the Housing Authority proposed rezoning a site in Carpinteria Valley from 3E1/Res 0.33 to accommodate 173 units, increasing affordable units from 41 to 50 (28% of total). The proposal highlighted proximity to Highway 101 and existing utilities.
  • Tatum Site: Redtail Multifamily Land Development proposed rezoning a site west of Turnpike Road to increase capacity from a pending 344 units to 545 units, with affordable units increasing from 69 to 110. The plan includes townhomes and open space amenities along the Hollister Avenue transit corridor.
  • San Marcos Growers Site: Presidio Capital Partners proposed rezoning agricultural land back to residential use for "San Marcos Ranch," a 996-unit rental community. The plan includes 200 deed-restricted units for very low and low-income residents in partnership with the Housing Authority, with remaining units priced at or below upper moderate income levels.
  • Montessori Center School Site: Trustees of the Montessori Center School proposed selling their 11.5-acre site on Hollister Avenue for residential development to fund a new campus. The proposal seeks a rezone for a mix of rental units, aiming to increase affordable units from 69 to approximately 115 (25% of total).
  • Caird-Elwood Property: Representatives for the Caird family and Chadmar Group proposed rezoning a nursery site in Eastern Goleta Valley for 800 to 1,000 for-sale homes. The plan includes 200 very low and low-income units with People Self-Help Housing and over 150 workforce housing units subsidized by local employers, preserving approximately 58% of the property as open space.
  • St. Athanasius Site: Representatives for St. Athanasius Church proposed rezoning the southern 14.75 acres of their 21-acre property to develop approximately 300 residential units to fund campus development on the northern portion. The proposal noted constraints related to airport approach zones and expressed interest in maximizing affordable units.
  • Georgie Property: The Georgie family proposed a diverse community plan for their 64.7-acre site near Hollister Avenue, including approximately 1,200 units (rentals, townhomes, and for-sale homes). Specific allocations included 250 very low-income rental units, 80 moderate workforce units, and 590 for-sale units. The project was designed under SB 330 to streamline the timeline.
  • Glen Annie Site: Gallery Macon presented a proposal for a 175-acre development in Goleta envisioning 800 to 1,000 housing units with variable densities. Key features included dedicating 100 acres to public open space and amenities, commitments for 23–31% affordable housing through partnerships, and an on-site childcare facility.

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Housing Initiatives

  • Josh Romer, Director of Capital and Physical Planning at UCSB, presented the university's housing initiatives. He clarified that UCSB is not requesting a rezone as most projects are already entitled under the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP). Four active projects were detailed: San Benito Student Housing (approx. 2,100 beds); Phase Two Student Housing (approx. 1,400 beds); Ocean Walk Faculty Workforce Housing (159 single-family homes for sale); and the Ocean Road Project (rental apartments and townhomes for sale), which is currently seeking a new development partner.

North County Site Presentations

  • Representatives presented proposals for several sites in the North County area:
  • Constellation Road Project: Urban Planning Concepts presented on behalf of Constellation Land Development LLC regarding a project in Lompoc (Vandenberg Village). The proposal involves rezoning two parcels from General Commercial and C2 to DR30 for a 60-unit apartment complex and an extended-stay hotel.
  • Apollo Way Project: PD Apollo Way LLC proposed dividing a 26.11-acre site in Lompoc into two parcels for apartments and townhomes, seeking zoning adjustments to allow for 302 units.
  • Keysight 11 Project: Representatives presented a proposal for a 21.5-acre infill site in Orcutt along Clark Avenue. The plan involves rezoning for approximately 100 residential units and a mixed-use component with retail and 57 additional apartment units.
  • Keysight 26 (Richards Ranch) Project: MD3 Investments and Covelop presented a proposal for a 27-acre urban infill site in Orcutt. The plan seeks rezoning to enable a mixed-use project with 386 apartments and 100 townhomes. A Builder's Remedy application (SB 330) was filed as an alternative due to water policy restrictions, though the developer requested the Board consider rezoning for a collaborative approach.
  • Magnolia Apartment Project: Southport Financial Services proposed rezoning a site in Orcutt from 8R1 to a density of 20–30 units per acre to accommodate approximately 130 workforce housing units designated for households earning 70% Area Median Income or below.
  • Boys & Girls Club Property: The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley requested rezoning the Orchid Aquatics property in Orcutt to a higher density to allow for the sale of a portion of the land to generate funds for constructing a new club and gymnasium on the remaining land.

Public Comment and Discussion

  • The Board received public comment from various stakeholders, including employer representatives, non-profit organizations, and residents. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce presented its "Road Home" initiative, outlining a vision for 10,000 units over 10 years with participation from several developers. Non-profit representatives expressed support for specific projects while raising concerns regarding the enforceability of verbal commitments, the adequacy of public park provisions, and the balance between market-rate and affordable units. Residents commented on traffic impacts, infrastructure capacity, and neighborhood character compatibility for specific sites.
  • During the discussion segment, Board members inquired about the enforceability of affordability commitments, design integration of affordable units, renewable energy requirements, and coordination between adjacent projects. Staff clarified that while Letters of Intent could be requested, only ordinance changes can lock in affordability requirements. Developers confirmed intentions to maintain or increase affordability levels and disperse affordable units throughout developments. Discussions also covered infrastructure challenges, including water resources for commercial components and the potential for annexation applications versus county jurisdiction.

Outcome

  • No formal motions were moved, seconded, or voted upon during this workshop. The session concluded with the Board acknowledging the public comments and presentations. The meeting was adjourned with a scheduled reconvening date of April 2nd in Santa Barbara.