Agenda Item C.1
CPMS DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEM
Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Peter T. Imhof, Planning and Environmental Review Director PREPARED BY: Anne Wells, Advance Planning Manager
Cam Audras, Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: Goleta’s Sphere of Influence
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Provide feedback on draft revisions to General Plan Figure 2-4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas;
B. Authorize staff to submit a Sphere of Influence application , based on the draft revisions to General Plan Figure 2 -4, to the Santa Barbara L ocal Agency Formation Commission; and
C. Direct staff to return with a request to initiate related General Plan Amendments.
BACKGROUND:
A Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is a regional planning and regulatory agency with county -wide jurisdiction, established by State Law, to discourage urban sprawl and to encourage orderly and efficient provision of governmental servi ces. The LAFCO manages the boundaries of cities and special districts. The Santa Barbara LAFCO is an 11 -member commission, including three city, three County, three special district, and two public members. Goleta is a voting member of LAFCO, represented b y City Councilmember Kyriaco.
Among other things, LAFCO is required to adopt a Sphere of Influence (SOI) for incorporated cities pursuant to California Government Code Sections 56425-56430. The SOI is a plan that defines the probable future physical boundaries and service area of the City and is an area within which future annexations to the City may be considered. The process for updating the SOI is initiated by a meeting between the City and representatives from the County to discuss the proposed boundaries and possible future zoning. If an agreement regarding the new boundaries is reached, the City forwards the agreement to LAFCO along with an application to update the SOI. If no agreement is reached, an application may similarly be submitted.
1 Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
If LAFCO adopts the SOI, an amendment to the General Plan reflecting the new SOI must occur. Any development approved by the County within the SOI would then be required to be consistent with the terms established in the SOI agreement, as reflected in the General Plan. Factors to be considered by the LAFCO in reviewing SOI requests include present and planned land uses, need for public facilities and services in the area, present capacity of public facilities and services, and social or economic interests.
Any future annexation of land into the City limits must include lands that are in the LAFCO- adopted SOI and must be consistent with the City’s General Plan. Annexation applications follow a separate process pursuant to G overnment Code Section 56652, including but not limited to an application, fees, environmental review, plans for providing necessary services, property tax exchange resolutions and, in certain circumstances, an approval of the annexation in an election.
Goleta’s SOI and LAFCO MOA
When the General Plan was adopted in 2006, the Potential City of Goleta Service Areas (Potential Service Area) was established in Land Use Element Policy LU 12 and mapped on Figure 2-4 (Attachment 1). The Potential Service Area is the equivalent of a SOI and is subject to the LAFCO approval process. Four areas comprise the Potential Service Area, including the Glen Annie Golf Course area, the North Fairview area, a portion of the South Patterson Area, and the former Ocean Meadows Golf Course. In 2009, the LAFCO chose to deny the City’s application to include the Potential Service Area, as mapped in General Plan Figure 2-4, and instead established a SOI coterminous (sharing the same boundaries as) with the existing City boundary. Future annexation potential was therefore eliminated because property must be located in a SOI to be considered for annexation.
On September 17, 2024, the City Council considered a staff report regarding potential reassessment of the City’s SOI. At this meeting, Council also considered a request from LAFCO Executive Director Mike Prater to participate in a SOI boundary Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the County and each incorporated city in Santa Barbara County intended to identify the process for evaluating future development as it relates to potential future jurisdictional boundaries.
At the meeting, City Council provided direction to staff to work collaboratively toward development of a SOI boundary MOA with the LAFCO and member jurisdictions. With the understanding the MOA timeline is multi-year, City Council also provided direction to staff to proceed with a parallel, shorter timeframe General Plan Figure 2-4 evaluation and SOI application for submittal to LAFCO , addressing certain possible changes to the Potential Service Area mapped in General Plan Figure 2-4.
2 Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
DISCUSSION:
LAFCO MOA Letter
Consistent with Council direction, City staff transmitted a letter to LAFCO, dated October 8, 2024 (Attachment 2), formally requesting initiation of the MOA process. Staff continue to participate in an SOI evaluation process with LAFCO, an effort funded by a California Department of Conservation Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) grant. This LAFCO-led, multi-year MOA effort is intended to outline a process to proactively address future land development issues, clarify intentions, and increase the level of trust and coordination between the cities in the unincorporated Santa Barbara County and County. The SALC grant award to LAFCO was executed on February 5, 2026 and a project kickoff meeting was held on February 17, 2026.
City-County Consultation
On November 17, 2025, City and County staff and representatives from the County Board of Supervisors (BOS) and Goleta City Council met to discuss poss ible changes to the City’s SOI, which is currently coterminous with the City limits. The County Housing Element rezone sites were discussed with a focus on the Glen Annie Golf Course area and South Patterson area. County staff and BOS representatives expressed support for the City’s intention to apply for a SOI change including these two areas. The participants did not see a need for a formal Memorandum of Agreement, but the County’s executive team indicated verbal support based on the discussion during the meeting. LAFCO will need County support during its review of a future SOI application.
General Plan Figure 2-4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas / SOI Boundary Evaluation
As directed by Council, staff evaluated General Plan Figure 2-4 in consideration of recent land use changes and pending development projects in the unincorporated areas adjacent to the City limits. As a result of the evaluation, staff identified the need to update General Plan Figure 2 -4 and prepared draft revisions for Council consideration (Attachment 3 ). Ultimately, this draft map will be used as the foundation for a SOI application to LAFCO. Parcel information, including site names, acreage, existing County zoning and possible City pre -zoning, along with a parcel ma p were used during the evaluation and provided in Attachment 4. The results of the evaluation and staff recommendations for possible changes to General Plan Figure 2-4 are provided below.
Staff recommend removing two of the four areas from the adopted General Plan Figure 2-4 as follows:
The Ocean Meadows Golf Course Area is located immediately east of the City’s Ellwood Mesa in the unincorporated County. This area was formerly the site of a proposed residential development and has since been purchased and donated to the UC Regents as an open space area. There is no longer development potential for this area as it is a State -owned public open space . Staff recommends not including this 3 Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
area in Draft General Plan Figure 2 -4 (Attachment 3) because of the lack of development potential.
The North Fairview Area is located to the northeast of the City in the unincorporated County. Th is area includes an existing developed neighborhood with limited redevelopment potential. Of note, there was significant North Fairview Area resident opposition to the City’s 2009 SOI application that was ultimately denied by LAFCO.
Staff recommend s not including this area from Draft General Plan Figure 2 -4 (Attachment 3) because of the lack of development potential and the former resident opposition.
Staff recommends retaining the other two areas from the adopted General Plan Figure 2- 4, with revision as shown in Attachment 3. Proposed revisions, by area, include:
The Glen Annie Golf Course Area is located north of the City limits and includes six parcels, totaling 161 acres. More than half of the area, including 3 of the 6 parcels, were recently rezoned from Agriculture to DR-5.0 or DR-20/30 ( high density residential) by the County with a new development application inquir y in progress including a conceptual design for the development of 800 to 1,000 new residential units. The remaining 3 parcels were not rezoned by the County and continue with an Agriculture zoning designation and golf course use. Because these sites allow f or significant new residential development on the City’s border with site ingress and egress provided solely through the City , staff recommends retaining the Glen Annie Golf Course Area in Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 with one revision. This revision, as proposed, changes the pre -zoning from Agriculture to High Density Residential to align with County zoning on 3 of the 6 parcels.
The South Patterson Area is located east of the City limits, south of Hollister Avenue, and straddles the southern extent of Patterson Avenue located immediately adjacent to the City. The adopted General Plan Figure 2-4 currently includes 2 parcels, Giorgi and St. Athanasius Church, as Potential Service Areas. The draft General Plan Figure 2-4 includes both the existing parcels plus 7 additional parcels, Scott, Ekwill, Caird 1- 3, Caird West, and Caird East. Cumulatively, these 9 parcels, as shown in Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Attachment 3), total 195-acres, most of which are proposed for future high density residential development with a possible development potential of 3,100 units. Staff recommendations, by parcel, are described below:
o Rezone Parcels . The St. Athanasius Church, Scott, Ekwill, and Caird 1 -3 properties comprise 6 of the 9 parcels, totaling 130 acres. These 6 parcels were recently rezoned from Agriculture to DR-20/25 or DR-30-40 (h igh density residential) by the County with one exception: about one third of the Caird 3 parcel is located within the Coastal Zone and was not rezoned, retaining an Agriculture zoning designation. Potential development at these 6 parcels could result in the construction of approximately 2,000 new residential units. The portion of the Caird 3 parcel within the Coastal Zone was not included in the Caird 3 development application. Staff recommends including all 6 parcels (St. Athanasius, Scott, Ekwill, and Caird 1 -3 parcels) in the South Patterson Area, as shown in Draft General 4 Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
Plan Figure 2 -4, because the zoning allows for significant, new residential development on the City’s border with site ingress and egress provided largely through the City . Staff also recommends pre-zoning these 6 properties to High Density Residential and Agriculture for the portion of Caird 3 in the Coastal Zone to align with County zoning.
o Builder’s Remedy Parcel . The Giorgi property is 65 acres in size and is zoned Agriculture by the County. This property has a pending “Builders Remedy” application for development including 1,096 new residential units. For the same reasons stated above, staff recommends retaining the Giorgi property in the South Patterson Area, as shown in Draft General Plan Figure 2-4. Staff recommends pre- zoning the property to High Density Residential to align with uses proposed in the residential development application currently under review by the County.
o Island Parcels. The Caird West and Caird East properties total 0.46 acres and are zoned Agriculture by the County. There is no pending development application on these two properties. Staff recommends including these two small, isolated parcels in the South Patterson Area , as shown in Draft General Plan Figure 2 -4, because they are completely surrounded by future housing development sites, the Caird 3 and Scott properties, previously described. Staff recommends pre-zoning these two properties to Agriculture to align with County zoning.
SOI Application
Based on the Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas map, as previously described, staff recommends the preparation and submit tal of a SOI application to LAFCO. Doing so will best position the City to plan for future City boundary changes and potentially better connect growth plans in the City and the adjacent unincorporated County.
General Plan Amendment
The Potential Service Area is established in the adopted General Plan Figure 2 -4 (Attachment 1). The Potential Service Area is the equivalent of a SOI, and is subject to the LAFCO approval process. The proposed revisions to the Potential Service Area, described in this staff report and shown in Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Attachment 3), will ultimately necessitate a General Plan Amendment. As such, staff seeks City Council authorization to return with a formal request to initiate a General Plan Amendment, consistent with City Council Resolution No. 12 -13 and Goleta Municipal Code (GMC) Section 17.67.030.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The fiscal impacts of Council’s direction to submit the City’s SOI application to the LAFCO and to complete the corresponding General Plan Amendment would be the staff time needed to complete the work. In addition, LAFCO application fees include a $3,500 SOI processing deposit and any other applicable fees. Staff time is included in the Advance 5 Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
Planning Division Work Program for Fiscal Year 202 6-27. Any future actions resulting from an adopted SOI, such as annexation , would involve additional fiscal impac ts that would need to be further evaluated.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council is under no obligation to reconsider the City’s SOI at this time as the City’s has an established SOI which is coterminous with the City boundary.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Isaac Rosen, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. General Plan: Policy LU 12 Land Uses in Goleta’s Environs and Figure 2 -4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas
2. October 7, 2024 City of Goleta Sphere of Influence Memorandum of Agreement Letter to LAFCO
3. Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Draft Sphere of Influence Map)
4. Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Draft Sphere of Influence Map) Parcel Information
5. Staff Presentation
6 ATTACHMENT 1
General Plan: Policy LU 12 Land Use in Goleta’s Environs and Figure 2-4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas
7 Attachment 3: General Plan Policy LU 12: Land Use In Goleta’s Environs
Policy LU 12: Land Use In Goleta’s Environs [GP]
Objectives: To identify possible areas for future service delivery and boundary expansion by the City. To influence the amount and character of land use change and development in nearby areas of the Goleta Valley that are not within the city but that may result in impacts inside the city and provide guidance with respect to mitigation of those impacts.
LU 12.1 City of Goleta Planning Area. [GP] The City of Goleta Planning Area, shown on Figure 2-3, extends from the western sphere of influence (SOI) boundary of the City of Santa Barbara in the east to the westernmost boundary of the service area of the Goleta Water District at the El Capitan area to the west. The planning area is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the south and Los Padres National Forest on the north. The planning area includes lands within Goleta; lands within the city of Santa Barbara, including the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport; lands within the UCSB campus subject to the jurisdiction of the University of California Board of Regents and the California Coastal Commission; and a wide array of lands in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, ranging from the densely developed community of Isla Vista to the scenic rural landscapes of the Gaviota Coast. The planning area also includes lands within the jurisdiction of a variety of special districts, including the Goleta Water District, the Goleta Sanitary District, the Goleta West Sanitary District, the Embarcadero Community Services District, the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District, the Santa Barbara County Fire Protection District, the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District, the Metropolitan Transit District, and others.
In addition to the specific guidelines or criteria set forth in subsequent sections of this policy, the following general guidelines shall apply to lands within the planning area that are outside the city boundary:
a. Land use changes and service delivery changes within the planning area shown in Figure 2-3 are likely to have impacts on Goleta and on its residents and businesses. Such changes could affect the ability of the City to fully or effectively achieve the various objectives and purposes set forth in this plan. Consequently, the City has a strong interest in reviewing and commenting on all proposals for change in the Planning Area.
b. The City encourages the various entities with jurisdiction over lands within the Planning Area to refer all proposals for changes to the City for its review and comments. The changes of interest to the City include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Proposals for development of buildings or other structures.
2. Proposals for subdivision of land, including lot line adjustments.
3. Proposals for changes in zoning, including the map of zoning districts and text regulations applicable to the land.
4. Proposed new plans or amendments to existing plans, including community or area plans, specific plans, the Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP) of UCSB, the Santa Barbara Airport Master Plan, resource-related plans, and other similar planning documents.
8 Attachment 3: General Plan Policy LU 12: Land Use In Goleta’s Environs
5. Master plans and similar planning documents for services and facilities of special districts.
6. Proposals for annexation of lands.
7. Proposals for acquisition or disposition of real property.
8. Proposals to extend or modify services and/or infrastructure facilities. c. The City encourages that proposals related to the foregoing items be referred to the City at the earliest possible time so that the City’s comments may have a role in helping shape the proposal prior to its being considered for final action in formal hearings or other proceedings.
d. The City encourages that the Lead Agencies pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for projects situated within the Planning Area include the City in their distributions of all CEQA notices for those projects, including, but not limited to, notices of preparation and notices of public scoping meetings.
e. The City shall notify all agencies and governmental entities having jurisdiction within the Planning Area of all City projects or actions that could potentially affect the agency or entity. This shall include notifications regarding the items set forth in section b. above and other notifications as may be requested by the agency or entity.
f. Additional rural lands should not be annexed to the Goleta Water District, Goleta Sanitary District, or the Goleta West Sanitary District. g. Creation of new private service systems for sewer and water in rural areas north and west of Goleta shall be opposed.
LU 12.2 City of Goleta Service Boundary/Potential Sphere of Influence. [GP] Figure 2-4 shows Goleta’s probable ultimate physical boundaries and service area, including boundaries for potential future additions to Goleta’s service area. The subject areas are likely to share an identity as part of the greater Goleta area and in some instances are portions of neighborhoods that are split by present (2006) city boundaries. The following guidelines shall apply to lands within these areas:
a. Planned Land Uses. Figure 2-4 shows the land uses planned by the City within the potential areas that may be added to Goleta’s service area. These land use designations, which are described in Policies LU 2 through LU 7, indicate the City’s intended land uses during the time that such lands remain under the land use control of the County, as well as following any future boundary changes to incorporate such lands within the City.
b. Service Delivery. The City has determined that it has the ability to effectively and efficiently provide municipal-type services to the land areas depicted on the map in Figure 2-4. Further, the City is willing to extend its services to the subject areas, provided that there is interest by area residents in having the City as a primary service provider. In some instances, access to the subject areas is exclusively by streets from within Goleta. In these and other instances, it is likely to be more practical for the City of Goleta to provide services rather than other governmental entities. Urban services (such as sewerage systems) should not be 9 Attachment 3: General Plan Policy LU 12: Land Use In Goleta’s Environs extended outside the land areas that are designated for land uses and densities that necessitate such services.
c. Sphere of Influence. The City may prepare a request to the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) for adoption (or amendment) of a SOI for the City of Goleta that includes all or portions of the lands identified in Figure 2-4. The environmental impact report prepared for this plan has evaluated the potential impacts of the subject area being incorporated into the SOI, including potential impacts of future land use and service changes. d. Future Boundary Changes. The City of Goleta places the highest importance on self-determination by the voters and property owners within the areas identified in Figure 2-4 as to the appropriate governmental organization for the areas. Since some of the areas are “inhabited,” as defined in LAFCo law, any future boundary change would require approval by a majority of the voters within a subject territory. The City encourages property owners and residents within these areas that may be interested in consideration of a boundary change to advise the City at the appropriate time. The City will provide appropriate assistance to help evaluate the merits of possible changes in governmental organization. e. Development Proposals. Following adoption of an SOI for Goleta, the City encourages that any future proposals for urban-type development on lands within the SOI boundary be evaluated to determine if such development should only be considered following any appropriate change in governmental organization for the subject area. These determinations should involve participation by all affected parties, including the City, the County, the affected property owner(s), and any affected residents.
10 11
ATTACHMENT 2
October 7, 2024 City of Goleta Sphere of Influence Memorandum of Agreement Letter to LAFCO
12 13
14 15
16 17
18 ATTACHMENT 3
Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Draft Sphere of Influence Map) 19 20
ATTACHMENT 4
Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Draft Sphere of Influence Map) Parcel Information 21 Draft General Plan Figure 2-4 (Draft Sphere of Influence) Parcel Information
Site
#s
Parcel Name Assessor
Parcel Number
(APN)
Acreage Existing
County
Zoning
City Pre-Zoning
1 Glen Annie 077-530-028 16.64 AG-II-40 Open Space / Active Recreation 2 Glen Annie 077-530-030 7.70 AG-II-40 Open Space / Active Recreation 3 Glen Annie 077-530-012 10.36 DR-5.0 High Density Residential 4 Glen Annie 077-530-020 7.82 DR-5.0 High Density Residential 5 Glen Annie 077-530-021 76.52 DR-20/30 High Density Residential 6 Glen Annie 077-530-031 40.08 AG-II-40 Open Space / Active Recreation 7 Giorgi 071-140-064 64.80 AG-I-10 High Density Residential 8 St. Athanasius Church 071-140-072 20.56 DR-30/40 High Density Residential 9 Scott 071-140-071 9.38 DR-30/40 High Density Residential 10 Ekwill 071-140-048 8.23 DR-30/40 High Density Residential 11 Caird 1 065-090-031 15.22 DR-20/25 High Density Residential 12 Caird 2 065-230-012 15.85 DR-20/25 High Density Residential 13 Caird 3 071-190-036 60.83 DR-20/25
/ AG-I-10
High Density Residential /
Agriculture
14 Caird West 071-190-008 0.23 AG-I-10 Agriculture
15 Caird East 071-190-009 0.23 AG-1-10 Agriculture
Notes:
Parcel’s 1-6 comprise the proposed Glen Annie Golf Course Area.
Parcel’s 7-15 comprise the proposed South Patterson Area.
Parcel 13, Caird 3, contains 20.54 acres of land, zoned A-1-10, located in the Coastal Zone.
DR = Residential
AG = Agriculture
22 Devereux Creek
Devereux Creek
SanAntonio CreekMaria Ignacio Creek
Atascadero Creek
Tecolotito Creek
Bell Canyon Creek
Atascadero Creek
Los
Carneros
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ElEncantoCreek
WinchesterCanyonCreek
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MariaIgnacioCreek
LasVegasCreek
Tecolote Creek
Tecolote Creek
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GlenAnnieCreek
San Jose Creek
SanJoseCreek
Old S
an Jose Creek
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eros C
reek
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to C
reek
Isla Vista UCSB
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Devereux
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Campus Lagoon
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Pacific Ocean
Santa Barbara Airport
Union Pacific RR
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Goleta Pier
Ellwood Pier 217
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Legend
Land Use Designations for Future Service Areas
Agriculture
High Density Residential
Open Space / Active Recreation
Other Features
City of Goleta
Coastal Zone
n Schools
0 1,200 2,400
Feet
±
Amended by Reso. 09-59, 11/17/09
Amended by Reso. 2X-xx, x/x/2X
March 2026
GENERAL PLAN/COASTAL LAND USE PLAN
FIGURE 2-4
DRAFT
POTENTIAL CITY OF GOLETA SERVICE AREAS
WITH SITE NUMBERS
23 ATTACHMENT 5
Staff Presentation
24 Goleta’s Sphere of
Influence
Presentation By:
Anne Wells, Advance Planning Manager
Cam Audr
as, Assistant Planner
March 17, 2026
25 March 17, 2026 – City Council 2
26 March 17, 2026 – City Council 3
27 Glen Annie Golf Course Area
March 17, 2026 – City Council 4
28 South Patterson Area
March 17, 2026 – City Council 5
29 Staff Recommendation
March 17, 2026 - City Council 6
A. Provide feedback on draft revisions to General Plan Figure 2-4 Potential City of Goleta Service Areas;
1. Remove Ocean Meadows and North Fairview areas.
2. Keep Glen Annie Golf Course and expanded South Patterson Areas.
B. Authorize staff to submit a Sphere of Influence application, based on the draft revisions to General Plan Figure 2-4, to LAFCO; and C. Direct staff to return with a request to initiate related General Plan Amendments.
30 March 17, 2026 – City Council 7
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