Santa Barbara County and its cities are planning the construction of nearly 15,000 housing units on the South Coast over the next eight years, according to the Community Environmental Council (CEC).

To address local housing expansion, the CEC and Santa Barbara City College School of Extended Learning will host a panel discussion on advancing sustainable development in an era of unprecedented housing growth. The program will be 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 9 at the CEC Environmental Hub, 1219 State St., Santa Barbara.

Dave Davis, chair of Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors, will introduce the program. Panel moderator is Dave Durflinger, retired Carpinteria city manager.

Panelists include Michael Chiacos, CEC’s climate policy director; Rob Fredericks, executive director/CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara; Peter Lewis, developer/building industry; and Ryan Cruz, reporter, Santa Barbara Independent.