505 East Los Olivos Street (Behind the Old Mission)

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Eight-story builder's remedy project behind the Old Mission. The writ claims were denied April 22, 2026; the city's motion on the remaining declaratory relief claim was continued to Nov 4. The city says full CEQA review is required before any hearing. A federal suit over SB 158 was dismissed with leave to amend in June 2026.

The 54 low-income units mean the city cannot deny the project outright. City records give Jan. 29.

HCD finds the adopted element in substantial compliance, weeks after the filing.

The first of four incompleteness findings demands a general plan amendment and rezoning; the city waives that demand on Sept. 13, 2024.

The suit follows the city's May 12, 2025 letter.

The application is complete after four incompleteness findings.

The city cites zoning inconsistency, wetlands, steelhead habitat and a FEMA floodway.

The budget trailer bill removes the CEQA exemption from builder's remedy sites that meet population, size, floodway, wetland and landmark tests.

The Mission LLC says SB 158 singles out its project.

Judge Thomas Anderle finds the completeness claim moot and the other claims unripe or without merit.

Judge Hernán D. Vera finds the claims unripe and barred by sovereign immunity, while saying "there are serious constitutional questions raised here."

The city says its consistency letter is not a disapproval.

On the fourth incompleteness letter: "this fourth letter is apparently entirely in bad faith and designed to harass"

Listed as manager of the applicant, The Mission LLC; the Los Angeles Times identified Craig and Stephanie Smith as the developers.

SB 158 grew from "protests of wealthy homeowners, many of whom cosplay as housing advocates until the proposed housing is in their neighborhood."

"Every piece of legislation I author or review, I do so based on the needs of our state but also with the lens of the community I represent"

Called the project "a horrendous nightmare," as reported by Noozhawk.

"Proposing projects like this undermines support for building density in Santa Barbara."

"The biggest concern is public health and safety."

Denied the developer's writ claims on April 22, 2026. In a later tentative ruling he wrote that "there may be issues remaining for trial when reviewed carefully."

Dismissed the federal suit on June 2, 2026 with leave to amend: "there are serious constitutional questions raised here"

"the City has not 'disapproved' the Project by causing an unreasonable delay." (July 8, 2026)

The city denied the AB 130 exemption, and SB 158 later removed the exemption for sites like this one. The city requires 12 environmental studies before hearings.

The city's July 2026 letter says the project exceeds current builder's remedy density limits (71.43 versus 30 units per acre), while conceding that the pre-2025 rules apply.

The city's consistency letter cites the 30-foot height limit in City Charter Section 1506; the city puts the project at about 112 feet.