The Solomon Hills mixed-use development would add 4,000 residential units plus stores, offices and more on land west of Highway 101 between Orcutt and Los Alamos.
The Solomon Hills mixed-use development would add 4,000 residential units plus stores, offices and more on land west of Highway 101 between Orcutt and Los Alamos. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo

A proposal for a massive mixed-use development creating a new community south of Orcutt has launched into the environmental phase, the next of many steps before the Solomon Hills project could become reality.

The Solomon Hills proposal by Solstra Communities California LLC sits on a 4,195-acre site west of Highway 101 and two miles east of Highway 135 with development planned for 1,903 acres.

The project site for 4,000 single- and multi-family residential units lies between the communities of Orcutt and Los Alamos.

“This is an early step in the environmental review process for the largest project the County of Santa Barbara has accepted an application for,” said Shannon Reese, supervising planner for the Santa Barbara County Community Development Department.

Spelled out in a specific plan, Solomon Hills also would add up to 525,000 square feet of office space; 125,000 square feet for businesses such as a grocery store, pharmacy and restaurants; up to 104,800 square feet of public institutional uses; 20,000 square feet of park and recreation space; and approximately 950 acres of open space. The project site would also include a 506-acre conservation easement.

Public facilities would include a new school for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade along with a fire station and law enforcement offices.

The Solomon Hills project site is surrounded by the yellow outline while the smaller specific plan area is shown by the dotted purple line.
The Solomon Hills project site is surrounded by the yellow outline while the smaller specific plan area is shown by the dotted purple line. Credit: Contributed map

A water source for the project along with the highway interchange plans remain in the works. A secondary access would occur via Highway 135 and an existing private road.

The project also would include the abandonment or re-abandonment of 66 known oil and gas wells and perform associated remediation. 

“Our vision is to help North County to address this urgent need for quality jobs and housing by creating a well thought-through and -designed sustainable and vibrant community. Residents would not only live here, but they can also work and play there,” said Klas Hasbo, chief executive officer for Solomon Hills. 

Several people spoke out about various aspects to study, including fire hazards, a water source, view shed protection and more.

Jon Blanchard, president of the Santa Maria Valley Open Space, which focuses on trails in Orcutt, noted the importance of the area that has seen decades of recreational access. 

“The quality of those open spaces and the trails and habitat, and how that’s impacted by the view sheds and the separation from development I think is really important,” Blanchard said. “The views from Orcutt along the 101 corridor — how that fits in and how the development can keep that a really special place I think is something that should be a priority, and it sounds like, I think, it is valued by the project team.”

He also called for protection of the Newlove Picnic Grounds, calling it a unique location that can handle up to 500 people. 

The Solomon Hills residential area is shown in yellow with the salmon-colored area for commercial uses. Gray would be for a school, a fire station and public facilities, while the green areas would be parks and open space.
The Solomon Hills residential area is shown in yellow with the salmon-colored area for commercial uses. Gray would be for a school, a fire station and public facilities, while the green areas would be parks and open space. Credit: Contributed map

“I think it could be a major trailhead for the community,” he said, suggesting that it could encourage natural environment education much like the Arroyo Hondo Preserve. 

Michael Foote, director of economic development and community affairs for REACH Central Coast, noted the need for accessible and affordable housing.

“This will require innovative thinking, regional collaboration and bold action. As you begin this work of scoping this project, we urge you to consider the positive impact that several thousand new homes will have on the economic prosperity and the livelihoods of Santa Barbara County residents,” Foote said. 

Craig Minus, a land-use planner and executive director of the Coastal Housing Coalition, recommended that the environmental review study housing and the project’s impact on the county’s ability to achieve the mandated housing goals. 

“Without Solomon Hills, where is that mandated needed housing going to be built?” Minus asked. 

The scoping meeting and the public comment period focused on collecting comments about what areas should be studied in the environmental document. 

In March 2023, the county Planning Commission accepted the General Plan amendment and rezoning applications with various steps leading toward launching the formal environmental process.

Once the draft environment impact report is completed, it will be available for public review and comments for 45 days, with the comments and needed adjustments included in the final EIR.

An EIR assesses physical environmental effects such as traffic, air quality, biological resources and more, with mitigation measures included to reduce or avoid impacts. EIRs also include possible alternatives to the original project.

Additional information regarding the project will be posted to the project’s website at countyofsb.org/3729/Solomon-Hills-Project.

The deadline for people and agencies to submit comments is 5 p.m. April 17.

Comments related to the scope of the environmental review may be submitted to Alia Vosburg and Tina Mitchell, senior planners, by sending email to PADSolomonHills@countyofsb.org or by regular mail sent to Planning and Development Department, 624 W. Foster Road, Suite C, Santa Maria, CA 93455.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.