The Santa Barbara County Housing Authority is working with a private developer to pave over 7 acres of prime Carpinteria Valley agricultural land to build 173 apartment units. The property located at the north end of Bailard Avenue now contains an organic farm and four homes. If you purchase a Farm Box from the Farm Cart, part of your organic vegetables come from this farm!

We understand the need for affordable housing in Carpinteria, but this development would include just 41 low income units and 132 full market value units. The property is not zoned for high density housing and currently serves as an important buffer between agricultural properties and the highest density housing area in Carpinteria.

The State of California is currently mandating that cities and counties ramp up their planning for more housing. We agree that our community needs more housing but our city planners and council are currently updating the City of Carpinteria's General Plan, an important tool in determining what Carpinteria intends to look like for the next 20 years. Alternate locations for housing are being considered that will not require the paving of agricultural lands. We wholeheartedly support our planning department in making decisions regarding our city, rather than the County of Santa Barbara making inappropriate decisions