The Santa Maria Valley Housing Summit
On March 27, 2025 the Santa Maria Valley Housing Summit convened a diverse group of professionals; including developers, attorneys, and construction industry experts, to address the pressing challenges hindering housing development in California. Held at Allan Hancock College's Boyd Concert Hall, the summit facilitated in-depth discussions on regulatory hurdles, environmental regulations, and innovative solutions to the state's housing crisis.
A significant portion of the summit focused on the complexities introduced by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). While CEQA aims to protect the environment, its implementation has often led to prolonged project timelines and increased costs. Attorney Christopher Guillen from Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck highlighted that while environmental regulations are essential, they have, at times, impeded housing projects. He emphasized the state's acknowledgment of these challenges and the ongoing efforts to refine regulations to better balance environmental concerns with housing needs.
The misuse of CEQA has been a point of contention, with reports indicating that 90% of housing projects have faced challenges under the state's environmental regulations. This has led to new laws aimed at streamlining the process or providing exemptions to environmental review. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains a topic of debate among industry professionals.
In response to these challenges, developers are exploring innovative solutions to reduce costs and adapt to the evolving landscape. Peter Kiesecker from the Solomon Hills Project emphasized the necessity for builders to adapt, citing the adage "adapt or die" as a reflection of the current industry climate. He highlighted emerging technologies, such as Santa Barbara-based SeaWell's offshore buoys designed to function like desalination plants, as potential game-changers in supporting sustainable housing development.
The summit underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to address the housing shortage effectively. By fostering partnerships and engaging in open dialogues, communities can work towards streamlining processes, reducing unnecessary hurdles, and ultimately increasing the housing supply to meet growing demands.
“As you can see, (the housing laws) have done virtually nothing. There’s not much meaningful impact to these. It’s just been a very marginal impact on housing in California.”
Read full Noozhawk article: Panelists at Santa Maria Summit Discuss Hurdles to New Housing
Chris Guillen, a Santa Barbara housing and land-use attorney participated in Thursday’s Santa Maria Valley Housing Summit.
photo: Janene Scully / Noozhawk