A program to provide access to Hollister Ranch’s eight miles of public beaches in Santa Barbara County is still crawling along, with the only progress after four years being the beginnings of a cultural resources survey and a programmatic environmental impact report.
The environmental report is tasked with looking at the potential impacts of the slew of experiences for beachgoers envisioned in the draft Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program: relaxing, walking, playing and swimming in the ocean, surfing, coastal hiking or biking, educational opportunities, and more.
To answer the contentious question of how the public would reach the remote beaches daily, various modes of both guided and independent access for transportation are being considered, including by shuttle, car, foot, and bicycle. State Lands, Parks, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy make up a state team that is in the midst of hiring a consultant.