A project proposal to add Santa Barbara County property to Santa Maria for residential and commercial development could help local leaders meet state housing requirements, but the development has some residents concerned about density and consistency with the surrounding areas.
Richards Ranch Annexation Project requested that the city annex a 43-acre county property southeast of the city limits near the Santa Maria Airport in order to develop 400 apartments, 95 townhomes, and a new retail commercial center, Santa Maria Community Development Department Planning Manager Dana Eady told the Sun via email. As a result of the application, the city created a draft environmental impact report to understand the impacts the city could experience if it adds this property.
“If the property is ultimately annexed from the county into the city, the property will be within the city of Santa Maria limits and will be developed under city policies and review procedures,” Eady said.
The application came in August 2021 from Michael Stotley—founder of SLO-based real estate investment and development firm MD3 Investments—and the environmental review process began in early 2022, she said. Right now, the property falls under the Orcutt Community Plan’s Key Site 26 and is primarily undeveloped.
As it stands in the community plan, Key Site 26 could develop 12 single family homes, 83 senior units, and 23 townhomes along with professional offices and a designated public open space.
A resident from a neighborhood adjacent to the land said she’s concerned about the housing density if the property is annexed, and for residents’ isolation from their representatives.
“It’s more dense than anything in the area,” said the resident, who requested anonymity until the project develops more. “The plot is surrounded by the county to the north, south, and east. To the west is highway 135 and the other side is the city. It’s virtually an island they are trying to annex.”
In letters to her county representative, 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson, and to the developer, she pointed out that other Orcutt community projects have better matched the surrounding areas and provided enhancements like trails, gardens, and protected green space.
“There’s nothing at all to enhance our neighborhood, and it’s just an exploitation of the neighborhood,” the resident said.
However, the area’s density will have to increase with or without the proposal to keep up with state housing development requirements. Key Site 26 was highlighted in the county’s 2023-31 housing element update as a potential site to increase housing density in order to help meet state Regional Housing Needs Allocation requirements, according to the county website. The county needed to develop 661 units in the unincorporated area by 2023. The 2023-31 state housing requirements bump that number up more than eight times higher, to 5,664.
Urban Planning Concepts Land Use Planner Laurie Tamura, who works with MD3 Investments, said this project serves as an infill development, which rededicates land to more development, and it will help the county meet its housing goals.
“From a planning perspective, infill development, particularly for housing, is really important right now based on California state law,” Tamura said. “This particular site has access to water, sewer, and all the infrastructure. This is a good site for higher density.”
Now, the Richards Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report will go through a public comment period that will last until Feb. 6. There is also a public meeting scheduled to receive comments on the report on Jan. 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, Learning Center Room.
The comments received will be reviewed and addressed in the final report. The next steps will include public hearings at the Santa Maria Planning Commission and City Council, and then a review by the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission. No hearing dates are scheduled yet.
Send comments to deady@cityofsantamaria.org, or mail them to the city of Santa Maria Community Development Department at 110 South Pine St., room 101.
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2023.