A state agency is calling for Buellton to carve out more elbow room than past years for homeowners seeking to retrofit their property with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). In 2022, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviewed Buellton’s ADU ordinance—last updated in 2020—and singled out a few restrictions as inconsistent with […]
Buellton Planning Commission refurbishes ADU policy to meet state standards
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County upholds Richards Ranch appeal, deems application complete
Richards Ranch in Orcutt continues to move forward with two separate project applications for the same site, thanks to a recent Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decision. On April 8, the board unanimously voted in favor of Richards Ranch, upholding the developer’s appeal of the county Planning Department’s decision and subsequent Planning Commission vote […]
Posted inNews
Beyond bars: County supervisors approve North County jail expansion set to cost more than $165 million
The county Board of Supervisors’ decision on the Northern Branch Jail expansion will impact future boards, sheriffs, county staff, and community members, Sheriff Bill Brown said at the April 1 meeting. In a 3-2 vote (with 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson and 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino dissenting), the board decided to build 1.5 new […]
Posted inFood & Drink
More than 60 craft breweries converge at Lagerville in Buellton
Ville of goods Lagerville takes place on Saturday, April 12, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., located at 45 Industrial Way, Buellton. VIP ticket holders get early access, starting at 11:30 a.m. Find more info on the festival by visiting lagerville.beer or figmtnbrew.com. When it rains, it pours—as did the featured […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Patti Robbins’ contemporary paintings envelope Gallery Los Olivos’ April display
Gallery Los Olivos presents Pizzazz, a solo exhibition of contemporary still life paintings by local artist Patti Robbins, currently on display and scheduled to remain up through Wednesday, April 30. This new showcase opened at the beginning of the month. According to press materials, Robbins’ portfolio features reimaginings of “everyday objects with daring perspective and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria’s Betteravia Gallery presents New Muralism: Valley Visions
In collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, Betteravia Gallery is showcasing a collection of expansive textile panels that “reflect the vibrant landscapes, cultures, and commercial hubs of the Santa Maria Valley,” according to press materials. The opening reception for the new exhibit, titled New Muralism: Valley Visions, will be held […]
Posted inOpinion
Disproportionate power deserves a response
We face the greatest threat to democracy and our constitution in our lifetime, if not in the history of the republic, and the Democratic “leadership” is AWOL! A coup has usurped judicial and legislative roles, consolidating them all in the executive branch. Meanwhile, past presidents are mute; the Senate minority leader has become an enabler; […]
Posted inOpinion
Animal Services ultimately helps people too
Pets matter to people. Over 80 percent of Americans see pets as part of their family. But when they need help with their companion animals, the people most affected are those struggling with poverty, homelessness, and crime. So when we help people with pets, we are helping our neighbors. For many families, a pet is […]
Posted inOpinion
Vicious cycle
I’m so confused. Why didn’t we build the Northern Branch Jail bigger the first time around? The original project—originally set to cost $80 million in 2012 but ballooned to $120 million by the time it was finished in 2021—built a jail with 376 beds and space for 32 medical and mental health beds. Now, just […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County continues to support Racial Equity Grant to advance anti-racism work
Barbareno Chumash Tribal Council; 805UndocuFund; Collective Cultures Creating Change Lompoc; Gateway Educational Services; Healing Justice Santa Barbara; Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, Santa Barbara; NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc; and the Regents of the University of California, Santa Barbara. These are the organizations the Fund for Santa Barbara’s Racial Equity Grant (REG) committee chose to receive money […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: April 10, 2025
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined a group of House Democrats asking for answers after five regional Head Start offices were shut down, including the regional office in San Francisco that serves Central Coast residents, his office said in a press release. The closures came after the Department of Health and Human Services […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Locally made surf film 300 Waves screens April 14 in the Bay Theatre
300 Waves and Rock to the Pier What’s it rated? Not rated When? Monday, April 14 (5 p.m. doors, 5:30 screening; $10 at the door or online at my805tix.com) Where’s it showing? The Bay Theatre of Morro Bay Local surfers can expect a nostalgic stoke next Monday when the Bay Theatre screens Leslie Girvin’s surf […]