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Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Project Description

Objective and Results: The objective of this project is to update the 1981 Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan in collaboration with the Santa Ynez Valley Planning Advisory Committee (SYPAC). This update will enable the community to modernize its planning goals and objectives to foster the quality of life that the community desires.
Background: The Santa Ynez Valley was last reviewed for appropriate land use and zoning designations as part of the County-Wide update to the Comprehensive Plan that was undertaken in 1980-81. Since that time, considerable growth has occurred and new planning issues and development trends have emerged. This has raised concerns regarding the changing character of the Valley.
Process: The County is currently preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan update.

Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan EIR

Click this link to download the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan EIR timeline

The Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Project Description for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
was released on Wednesday July 18, 2007.

Click this link to download the NOP and Scoping Summary

A scoping hearing was held at the Solvang Veteran's Memorial Building on August 8th, 2007 at 6:00pm. The hearing was designed to provide an overview of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan EIR, and provided an opportunity for public comment.

Click this link to hear the scoping hearing audio recording

Draft EIR Comment Period (Extended to 5:00 p.m. September 22, 2008)

The Draft EIR was released for initiation of a 45 day public comment period on Monday, June 9, 2008. The comment period was originally scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24, 2008. The County has extended the comment period beyond the required 45 days to 105 days. The comment period will now close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2008.

A public hearing was held to receive comments on July 9,2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Solvang Veterans' Memorial Building located at 1745 Mission Drive in Solvang.

Click this link to download the comment hearing audio recording

Please provide written comments to the project planner, Justin Feek at 30 E. Figueroa St. 2nd Floor Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: (805) 568-2849, Fax: (805) 568-2076 or at the email referenced below prior to the close of the public comment period on September 22, 2008 at 5 p.m. or provide testimony at the public hearing on the date and time specified above. Please limit comments to environmental issues such as traffic, biology, noise, etc.

Draft EIR Copies

An electronic version of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan EIR is available on this website. Complimentary hard copies of the Santa Ynez Valley Community plan EIR will be made available to current and former Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) members and elected County officials. Members of the public may purchase hard copies of the EIR from the Office of Long Range Planning. Black and white copies are available for $80.47 and color copies are available for $104.00. Please contact Justin Feek to order and allow 3-5 business days for processing. Copies are also available for review at the following libraries: Santa Barbara, Solvang and Santa Maria.

Click this link to download the Draft EIR Notice of Availability

Click this link to download the entire Draft EIR in PDF format

Click the links below to download individual sections

0.0 Executive Summary

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Project Description

3.0 Environmental Setting

4.0 Impacts

4.1 Land Use

4.2 Parks and Recreation

4.3 Public Services

4.4 Traffic and Circulation