County Board of Supervisors Approve $246,000 for Consultant to Review Workforce Housing Sites

In a bid to address the shortage of affordable workforce housing in Santa Barbara County, the Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a $246,000 contract with Harris & Associates. The consultant will conduct a comprehensive study of county-owned land to evaluate the feasibility of developing workforce housing on these properties.

The county, which owns extensive parcels of land, aims to tackle the pressing issue of housing shortages and the jobs-housing imbalance prevalent on the South Coast as required by the state’s housing mandate. The Board of Supervisors plans to rezone selected properties for private housing development.

The scope of the consultant’s study includes several key objectives. First, they will assess the shortage of affordable workforce housing, recognizing the challenges surrounding housing affordability in the region. The consultant will also evaluate existing county programs for workforce housing and identify model programs that could potentially be replicated.

Another important aspect of the study is to examine employer-sponsored housing initiatives within the county and explore potential funding opportunities and financing strategies for housing development. Additionally, the consultant will conduct a feasibility study of county-owned sites to determine their suitability for workforce housing projects.

Funding for the consultant contract will be sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), providing the necessary resources to undertake this significant housing assessment. County staff have already excluded certain properties from consideration due to existing structures or environmental concerns.

The list of properties to be evaluated by the consultant comprises 20 sites spanning a total of 450 acres. While many of these sites may not ultimately be viable for housing development after closer examination, County Staff suggested not removing any sites as they are being studied.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the consultant contract without removing any properties from the feasibility study list.

County-Owned Sites for Consultant Feasibility Analysis

1. 4500 Hollister Ave.
2. 4540 S. Hollister Ave.
3. 123 E. Carrillo Street.
4. 105 E. Anapamu St.
5. 1016 Santa Barbara St.
6. 4400 & 4410 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
7. 4417 Calle Real
8. 976 Embarcadero del Mar.
9. 401 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc
10. 100 E. Locust Ave., Lompoc,
11. APN: 097-371-070 (no address) Commercial/ 1.5 acres
12. 2010/2025 Sweeny Rd., Lompoc
13. 164 W Hwy 246, Buellton
14. 5551 Olive Hill Rd., Santa Maria,
15. APN: 111-100-005 (no address) Institutional. 2 acres
16. 4263 California Blvd.
17. 3550 Satinwood Rd., Santa Maria
18. APN’s: 113-210-024 (21.67 acres), and APN: 113-210-026 (1.93 acres) no addresses
19. APN’s: 128-085-037 (3.82 acres), Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria
    APN: 128-085-038 (.71 acres), Centerpointe Pkwy, Santa Maria
    APN #128-085-042 (1.13 acres), 522 Lakeside Rd., Santa Maria
    APN: 128-085-043 (1.73 acres), Southside Pkwy., Santa Maria
    APN: 128-085-044 (1.8 acres)
    MISC. & Commercial/9.19 total acres
20. 942 Ballard Canyon, Solvang, APN: 137-710-016 (9.3 acres), and
    940 Ballard Canyon, Solvang, APN: 137-710-017 (9.49 acres)
    Proper Improvement 1-4 acres/18.79 total acres

The full list can be viewed here: Attachment B – Inventory List for Feasibility + Maps