Santa Barbara County Supervisors Advances Plans for Major Calle Real Campus Master Plan

Santa Barbara is adopting a long-term project to centralize and consolidate all key government operations under the Calle Real Master Plan. During a board meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2024, the county board of supervisors approved the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Calle Real Master Plan. This approval clears the way for the plan’s adoption and campus development near Goleta.

Highlights 

• The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has signed off on the next steps for the Calle Real Master Plan on June 24, 2025.
• The project will roll out over 30 years in seven phases.
• The county’s General Services Department presented the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and the master plan.

Calle Real Campus Site to House All County Services in One Location

The Calle Real Master Plan, proposed by the General Services Department, entails the transformation of a 300-acre property located along Calle Real, into a consolidated government center. The campus would house the departments of Health Services, Social Services, and Public Safety. Currently, these operations are spread across the county. 

Tuesday’s meeting focused on the scope of the project and the environmental review process. The supervisors invited extensive public engagement and technical studies to create the final plan, which has been under review since before the pandemic. The concept will include 18 projects that will be built across seven phases, over a 30-year timeline.

The county’s agenda letter states that the campus in Goleta will assist in improving operational efficiency, increase interdepartmental collaboration, and offer accessible service to the public, albeit in a single location. During its initial presentation, the project was expected to cost a minimum of $402 million.

County staff is focused on Phase 1 for now and will seek grants and additional fundings for the remainder of the project.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the report in a 5-0 vote.

More information about the meeting can be found on the Santa Barbara Legistar’s Website.