This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
What does the Montecito Water District have to do with a massive housing project proposed in North County? On September 29, the district voted to approve a nonbinding letter of intent that would sell approximately 40 percent of its current state water entitlement to Solstra Communities California, the group aiming to build 4,000 homes on an expanse of rural land south of Orcutt.
The project, Solomon Hills, would build a new community: apartments, townhomes and single-family houses, along with office and retail space, a school, fire station, a fitness building and pool, and wastewater reclamation facility. The project’s 400 apartments would be marketed as affordable. A little under two-thirds of the land would serve as parks or open space…