Josh Richman, who grew up in Solvang, and Lots on Alamo Pintado LLC proposed Wildwood, a builder's remedy housing development on 5.48 acres at Alamo Pintado Road and Old Mission Drive, the eastern entrance to Solvang (city file LUP-23-242). The preliminary application was submitted in October 2023, after the city missed its housing element deadline and before HCD found Solvang's adopted element in substantial compliance on February 12, 2024; KSBY reported 109 units in February 2024. Richman later cut the plan to 100 units, saying he lowered the buildings and reduced the density after meeting with the neighboring Mission Oaks homeowners. On December 23, 2024 Planning Manager Rafael Castillo deemed the application complete, describing 100 residential condominium units. He accepted it on the basis of 20 percent lower-income units because AB 1893, under which the developer had asked to cut that share to 13 percent, was not yet in effect, and he said staff expected an environmental impact report to be required. According to its later petition, the S.Y. Valley Residents Association of California tried to appeal that determination on January 2, 2025 and the city would not accept the appeal. On February 10, 2025 the City Council voted 4-1 to hire Rincon Consultants for up to $252,272 to prepare an initial study and begin work toward the EIR. The association sued the city and the developer on March 7, 2025, asking the court to declare the preliminary and full applications void because they lacked signatures from the owners of land under a roughly 1.3-acre easement the project relies on, and because of changes to the affordable share. On August 5, 2025 Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge James F. Rigali sustained the city's demurrer without leave to amend, ruling the challenge premature and leaving the group free to sue after a final decision. The city's February 2026 project list said the applicant had asked for the project to be put on hold, and its September 2026 list says "Project on hold via agreement." No environmental document or hearing has been reported. News reports describe the units as apartments, while the city's completeness letter calls them condominium units, so the project type is left blank.
Court · Judge James F. Rigali
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | 109-Unit Builder's Remedy Proposal Reported | KSBY reports the 109-unit proposal. Planning and Building Manager Rafael Castillo says it was first submitted in October 2023, after the city missed its housing element deadline. KSBY: https://www.ksby.com/santa-ynez-valley/100-unit-apartment-building-could-soon-be-going-up-in-solvang |
| October 24, 2024 | Developer Cuts Plan to 100 Units After Neighbor Meetings | Richman says he lowered the buildings and reduced the density from 109 to 100 units. Neighbors say he lacked signatures from owners of the land under his easement. Santa Maria Sun: https://www.santamariasun.com/news-2/solvangs-wildwood-housing-proposal-creates-tension-among-neighbors-16053249/ |
| December 23, 2024 | City Deems Application Complete, Expects an EIR | The planning manager accepts the application at 20 percent lower-income units and asks for a $66,746.80 deposit to begin an initial study. City of Solvang: https://syvt.com/DocumentCenter/View/5533/Notice-of-Complete---Wildwood-122324 |
| January 2, 2025 | Residents' Appeal Turned Away | According to the residents' later petition, the city would not accept their appeal of the completeness determination. Santa Barbara County Superior Court: https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/tentative-rulings/demurrers-2-25cv01519-nf.pdf |
| February 10, 2025 | Council Hires Consultant for Environmental Review, 4-1 | The contract with Rincon Consultants, up to $252,272, covers an initial study and work toward an EIR. Councilmember Louise Smith dissents. Santa Ynez Valley Star: https://santaynezvalleystar.com/solvang-city-council-moves-forward-on-study-for-controversial-development |
| March 7, 2025 | Residents' Group Sues City and Developer | The S.Y. Valley Residents Association of California asks the court to vacate the completeness determination and declare the applications void. Santa Barbara County Superior Court: https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/tentative-rulings/demurrers-2-25cv01519-nf.pdf |
| August 5, 2025 | Judge Rules Residents' Suit Premature | Judge James F. Rigali sustains the city's demurrer without leave to amend. The group may sue again after a final decision. Santa Maria Times: https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/judge-tosses-suit-challenging-solvang-development/article_21e8c536-ae7e-437a-a7fe-2dbf19db5ea2.html |
| September 30, 2026 | City Lists Project on Hold | The city's major projects list, dated Sept. 30, 2026, says "Project on hold via agreement." Its February 2026 version said the applicant had asked for the hold. City of Solvang: https://syvt.com/567/Major-Projects-List |
| Date | Body | Action | Vote | Staff rec. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2025 | Court | lawsuit filed | — | Unknown | Santa Barbara County Superior Court: https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/tentative-ruling/25cv01519 |
| August 5, 2025 | Court | ruling issued | — | Unknown | Santa Barbara County Superior Court: https://www.santabarbara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/tentative-rulings/demurrers-2-25cv01519-nf.pdf |
Rating 4 of 5. Primary records for the key facts; minor details may rest on reporting. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.