The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday 8/26 considered updates to its decades-old Open Space Element, a part of the county’s General Plan that identifies and maps undeveloped areas and creates policies for their preservation.
The document was first adopted in 1979 and has not been substantially updated since then. According to county staff, it describes open space for public health and safety, the managed production of resources, outdoor recreation, and the preservation of natural resources. And it’s seriously outdated.
But now, by January 1, 2026, the County must come into compliance with Senate Bill 1425, mandating that cities and counties update their open Open Space Elements to address equitable access to open space, climate resilience, and rewilding opportunities. What exactly that means for Santa Barbara County is yet to be determined, but accepting the scope of effort and resources that the board wants to dedicate to preserving open space is the first step…