Hollister Ranch is a private, gated community that includes 8.5 miles of publicly owned tidelands along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County. The coastal area of the property features sandy beaches, rocky tide pools, coastal bluffs, and world-class surf breaks. The area also contains diverse marine and terrestrial habitats, as well as Native American cultural sites.

Recreational opportunities, like beachcombing, surfing, fishing, and wildlife observation, are currently available only to private homeowners and their invited guests. There is no land-based, public recreational access to this coastline, making it one of the most inaccessible stretches of the California coast.

Assembly Bill 1680 of 2019 requires that four state agencies (the Coastal Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, State Lands Commission, and Department of Parks and Recreation) collaboratively develop an updated coastal access program for Hollister Ranch, including provisions for land access to the beach.

The initial phase of developing the coastal access program included extensive community engagement and resulted in the 2021 Draft Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program. This step identified potential beach access opportunities and important considerations for each site.

The next step is now underway to refine and evaluate the access options. The goal is to strike a balance between providing public access, protecting environmental and cultural resources, respecting neighboring private property, and maintaining public safety, while also considering construction and management feasibility.

On November 12, we hosted an in-person workshop in Buellton at Oak Valley Elementary School, followed by another on November 13 at the Goleta Community Center. A virtual workshop was held on November 17. If you couldn’t attend, it’s not too late to review the materials and share input. You’ll find a short 15-minute video that provides an overview of the Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program, along with downloadable workshop boards. The survey will remain open until December 19 for additional feedback, comments, and perspectives. Click the link below to review the video and materials or to take the survey.