Orcutt residents pushing back against potential Santa Maria annexation of land planned for new development

ORCUTT, Calif. -- An organized effort is underway in Orcutt to oppose potential annexation of land by the City of Santa Maria that would be used for new commercial and retail development.

The site is called Richards Ranch and is located on 43.75 acres on four parcels of land along Highway 135, Union Valley Parkway and Orcutt Road.

The property is currently located in Orcutt, across the highway from the most southern edge of Santa Maria city limits.

An application from developer Michael Stoltey is currently being reviewed by the City of Santa Maria. A Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was made available for the public to view in December 2022.

According to the EIR, the conceptual development plan features a mix of commercial and high-density
residential uses. A maximum buildout of 160,800 square feet of commercial use is planned, as well as 400 apartments and 95 townhomes.

"It's in review and there is a draft environmental impact report that talks about the proposed project and potential impacts," said Chuen Wu, Santa Maria Community Development Director. "When we have a project like this, we want to look at how services are provided, and whether it's to the site, whether it's public safety or infrastructure, and so, all of that is in review, but some of this is spelled out in the EIR, and so after we get through the review process, we'll take the public input. We'll take the analysis and we'll provide a recommendation ultimately before the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration.

Rather than go through the Santa Barbara County approval process, the developer is intending to build the project within the City of Santa Maria.

For that to happen, the Santa Maria would need to annex the currently undeveloped property from Santa Barbara County.

"Although originally proposed as a Walmart development, we at Richards Ranch recognized an opportunity to provide the Orcutt community with much-needed housing and amenities that will complement and enhance the area," Stoltey said in a statement. "Annexation of the parcel is necessary solely for water service purposes." 

The potential annexation of the site into Santa Maria is upsetting many residents in Orcutt, who are now organizing an effort to formally oppose the project.

"I am opposed to it and I think most of the resident in Orcutt are opposed to it," said Orcutt resident Steve LaBard. "That property actually becomes an island for the city because it's divided by State Highway 135."

Wu pointed out the proposed development was initiated by Stoltey and that the property is technically next to Santa Maria city limits, adjacent to the southernmost border along the Santa Maria Public Airport.

"It's contiguous with property that's located west of the project site," said Wu. "(Highway) 135 does provide a division, but it's contiguous through the 135 to land west of it."

However, some residents feel the property simply doesn't fit with the rest of Santa Maria and belongs with the rest of the Orcutt community, which nearly surrounds the entire site.

"We feel like that's part of Orcutt," said April Sargeant Huckabey, an Orcutt resident and business owner. "That's right at Union Valley Parkway and 135. It's part of our town, part of Orcutt, part of our area. There's not a Santa Maria feel there. The houses next to that are not Santa Maria. The businesses that are right there are not Santa Maria. Santa Maria may be across the street, but that chunk, that side of the highway is not Santa Maria. It almost feels like it's being cherry picked."

While many are opposed to the annexation, some are not against the development, and are frustrated that Santa Maria may reap the financial benefits that may come with development of the site.

"It takes prime commercial property out of the Orcutt area and if Orcutt is ever going to become a community services district or a city that stands on its own, it's going to need that retail market and tax base as part of helping us become a city," said LaBard. "My hope is that it goes back to the county and then it has to go through the county process and it has to go through our board of architectural review, our supervisor, our planning commission, so the people of Orcutt have a say so. The way it is right now, we have no say so whatsoever on what's going to happen there if LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) allows that property to be annexed."

Recently, a group created a "We ♥︎ Orcutt" campaign, hoping to rally community-wide support to fight the annexation.

Signs featuring the slogan have popped up all across the community and can be seen throughout Orcutt.

"There are some people in the community that are stepping forward and pushing back on this," said Sargeant Huckabey. "We have written some letters. We've made some signs for people to put in their front yards to promote the Orcutt feel and the Orcutt vibe and that we love our town. We want to keep Orcutt Orcutt, so there are a bunch of us that are rallying together to support the development, but not the annexation. We want the word out that this is happening and that anybody who does want to join us, I don't want to use the word fight, but fight the annexation, they are welcome, and we're out here for those people that want more information."

According to Wu, there is no formal timetable that has been established for the project to go before city leaders.

Staff is currently going through various comments and concerns that have been received by the city since the Draft EIR was published late last year.

"We'll take the analysis and we'll provide a recommendation ultimately before the Planning Commission and City Council for their consideration," said Wu. "If this gets approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council, then the City Council would initiate an application to the Local Agency Formation Commission that reviews boundary changes."

LaBard said he and a handful of other Orcutt residents are planning to meet with members of LAFCO next month to discuss the details of starting the process towards potential cityhood.

"We just want to lay out all of our options and see if that's a possibility and what way it would go and if the community support is there," said LaBard. "At the end of the day, it's going to be up to the voters of Orcutt if they want to become a city or community services district."

Also next month, Stoltey is holding a community meeting where people have the opportunity to speak with him and discuss the project.

The community meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2023 from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m at the Oasis Senior Center.

LaBard is hoping the community will express their opinions not only to the developer, but also to Santa Maria.

"We need to make our voices loud and clear to the City of Santa Maria that we do not want them annexing Richards Ranch or any other properties in the Orcutt area," said LaBard.