The Santa Margarita Ranch in northern San Luis Obispo County is one of the oldest continuously working cattle ranches in the state of California, as well as a rich archaeological site and an area of diverse natural habitat. The Chumash and Salinan Indians traveled through this area, using it as a main trading route from the Central Valley to the Pacific coast. Later, the first overland expedition from Mexico to California in 1774 passed through these lands, eventually becoming an outpost for the missions in San Miguel and San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Today, the ranch is the largest privately-owned valley oak woodland remaining south of San Francisco, providing habitat for numerous wildlife like steelhead, California condors, golden eagles, and more. All of this historical and biological diversity is located at the heart of a rapidly expanding urban area.
The small town of Santa Margarita (pop. 1200) is at the epicenter of these development pressures. Santa Margarita Ranch encompasses approximately 13,800 acres of land between the town and the Santa Lucia Wilderness Area in the Los Padres National Forest - the largest Congressionally-designated wilderness area in San Luis Obispo County.
In 2004, plans were announced for a massive development on the ranch. Now, four years later, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors have approved those plans, threatening both the rural character of this rural community and the integrity of the adjacent Santa Lucia Wilderness.
The Development Proposal
The current landowners are proposing large-scale development across most of the ranch, converting this rich farmland into a sprawling subdivision. The first phase includes the construction of 112 homes. But that's just the beginning - the "proposed future development" includes buildout of several locations across the ranch property, including more than 400 additional houses, a private 36-hole golf course, a 250-unit guest ranch and lodge, a 12-room bed and breakfast, nine wineries, gift shops, a livestock sales yard, and an executive retreat center.
All this development comes at a price - the Final Environmental Impact Report for the entire project was released in June 2008 and identified 11 "significant and unavoidable" impacts on air quality, water supplies, wildlife habitat, Native American cultural resources, traffic and roads, agricultural viability, and more.
What's Next
Acknowledging these impacts, the County Planning Commission, after five public hearings, denied the project on a 4-1 vote last month. But the developers appealed to the Board of Supervisors, and after a long hearing at which nearly everyone spoke out against the project, the Supervisors - going against their own staff's recommendation - overturned the Planning Commission and approved the development. The Board of Supervisors will meet again on December 16 to finalize their approval.
Never has such a large development with so many impacts been approved in San Luis Obispo County. ForestWatch is working with a coalition of organizations to protect Santa Margarita and the adjacent Santa Lucia Wilderness from this misguided development that will forever change the landscape of this unique area.