Goleta Releases Draft Environmental Impact Report on Sandpiper Golf Course Renovation

The City of Goleta has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the Sandpiper Golf Course Renovation and New Clubhouse Project.

According to the DEIR, the project identifies several potentially significant but mitigable impacts. The renovation aims to reduce water use, improve water quality by converting from septic to sewer, and restore habitats to enhance the surrounding environment.

Scope of the Renovation

The DEIR notes that the Sandpiper Golf Course site once hosted the Ellwood Oil Field, which operated for more than three decades before closing in the 1960s. Thirteen abandoned wells remain, mainly in the site’s southern area. In 2023, the California State Lands Commission removed the last two shore zone piers. This marked the end of the cleanup and abandonment of former oil operations.

The property includes the Sandpiper Golf Club with its clubhouse and maintenance facilities, and the historic Barnsdall Rio Grande Gas Station, built in 1929. The western portion remains open space with Bell Canyon Creek, Devereaux Creek, and a small pond that provide natural habitat.

Golf Clubhouse

The existing 9,305-square-foot clubhouse and the adjacent parking lot will be demolished and replaced with a new two-level, 37,179-square-foot building that includes a basement and 162 parking spaces, according to the DEIR.

The new design features large glass panels, a central glass elevator, and sloped turf walls with a turf roof to blend the structure with the natural landscape.

Purpose and Legal Authority

The proposed project requires discretionary approval from both the Goleta Planning Commission and the City Council. It is therefore subject to the environmental review provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

In accordance with Section 15121 of the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14), the purpose of this Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is to provide information to public agencies and the public regarding the potential significant environmental effects of the project, identify possible mitigation measures, and present reasonable project alternatives.

Public hearings before the Goleta Planning Commission and City Council will be held to consider certification of the Final EIR and potential project approval.

Review Finds Clubhouse Renovation as Environmentally Superior Alternative

The DEIR identifies the “Clubhouse Renovation” option as the environmentally superior alternative. This option involves a smaller construction footprint and shorter construction schedule and would likely result in fewer environmental impacts than the proposed project.

Specifically, one of the alternatives would reduce potential impacts on aesthetics, air quality, biological and cultural resources, energy, hydrology and water quality, land use, transportation, and tribal cultural resources.

However, it would not achieve most of the project’s primary objectives and would only partially fulfill goals related to enhancing recreational and dining facilities and replacing private septic systems with public sewer connections.

Goleta’s Sandpiper Golf Club Ranked Among Top Public Courses

Located in Goleta, Sandpiper Golf Club is a championship-style public course designed by William F. Bell and established in 1972. The course is recognized nationally for its scenic ocean and mountain views, rolling fairways, and challenging greens.

The Sandpiper Golf Club renovation includes the construction of a new clubhouse featuring a rooftop terrace, golf simulators, meeting rooms, and several dining options.

Area Improvements: The project also proposes enhancements to the surrounding area, such as extending the De Anza Trail, providing new public beach access, and converting the site to a public sewer system.

Public Review: A public review period will be held to allow community input as part of the project’s effort to improve the facility for the future.