New senior housing development being proposed in Orcutt

ORCUTT, Calif. -- A new housing development for low-income seniors could be coming to Orcutt.

The project is just in the preliminary stages right now. On Friday, the developers presented their plans to the North County Board of Architecture to get their first round of comments.

Developers TAIT and Associates plan to build a 233-unit senior housing complex.

They teamed up with the Orcutt Union School District in hopes of leasing the 9-acre piece of land from them. The duo hopes to create programs at an on-site community center connecting seniors with students in the school district.

“TAIT and Associates is a great partnership and a great opportunity to not only build on an existing surplus property, which will provide additional income to the school district, but it also provides a bridging opportunity to tie in education with our seniors,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at Orcutt Union School District, Bill Young.

The property is located at Soars Avenue and South Pacific Road.

“We are developing senior assisted living, composed of independent living, assisted living and memory care. So a full continuum of care,” said TAIT and Associates owner Trevor Tait.

“There is an opportunity to tie our educational programs to programs that are being developed there at the site, for both the elder and students.” said Young.

There's already some pushback from people who live in the neighborhood.
They say they're concerned with the height and density of the development.

“I have seen the plans and I just don't think the integrity of Old Orcutt will be met by what they are proposing to put on those 9 acres, it's a lot, it's too much,” said Orcutt resident Mary Jo.

Other residents see the project differently.

“It sounds great, my mom lives in a senior care home, so I understand how keeping seniors active and stimulated and having multi-generation interaction is great,” said Orcutt resident Mia Relyea.

Right now the tallest building in old Orcutt is just two stories. The architectural plans show one section of the housing project that would be 3 stories.

Silbernagle voiced additional concerns the tall building could hinder the views. She also said she is concerned about traffic congestion in the area because of the high number of new dwelling units.

The school district says it purposely chose TAIT Associates because their designs aligned with Orcutt's design standards.