Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding amendments to the County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) (Case No. 24ORD-00028), Article II Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) (Case No. 24ORD-00029), Montecito Land Use and Development Code (MLUDC) (Case No. 24ORD-00030), Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element (Case No. 26GPA-00005), Coastal Land Use Plan (Case No. 26GPA-00006), and Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves to adopt the Utility-Scale Solar Project, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Make the required findings for approval, including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations;
b) Certify the Utility-Scale Solar Amendments Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) (County Environmental Document No. 25EIR-00003, State Clearinghouse No. 2024110254), dated December 2025, as modified by the EIR Revision Document (RV 01), dated September 1, 2026, and adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program;
c) Approve the Utility-Scale Solar Ordinance Amendments Project by taking the following actions:
i) Adopt an Ordinance amending the zoning regulations of the County LUDC (Case No. 24ORD-00028), Section 35-1 of Chapter 35, Zoning, of the Santa Barbara County Code;
ii) Adopt an Ordinance amending the zoning regulations of Article II CZO (Case No. 24ORD-00029), of Chapter 35, Zoning, of the Santa Barbara County Code;
iii) Adopt an Ordinance amending the zoning regulations of the MLUDC (Case No. 24ORD-00030), Section 35-2 of Chapter 35, Zoning, of the Santa Barbara County Code;
iv) Conceptually adopt a Resolution amending the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan, Case No. 26GPA-00005 and continue this item for final adoption to the Land Use Element “window date” on September 22, 2026; and
v) Adopt a Resolution amending the Coastal Land Use Plan of the Comprehensive Plan, Case No. 26GPA-00006;
d) Adopt a Resolution amending the Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones;
e) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Planning and Development Department to submit the CZU and Coastal Land Use Plan amendments to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) for review and certification as an amendment to the Santa Barbara County Local Coastal Program; and
f) Direct the Planning and Development Department to transmit the adopted Resolution to the Executive Director of the CCC.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY