According to the listing for Eagle Canyon Ranch, the Gaviota Coast property started with a parcel purchased in 1884. Over time, the family that owns it bought 13 more parcels, and the total now stands at 1,900 acres. It just got put on the market—”for the first time in over a century”—for $50 million.
·················
Size/Acreage: 1,900 acres.
Price: $50 million.
Listing agents: Casey Gordon of Rodeo Realty.
·················
Bordered by U.S. 101, Los Padres National Forest, and Farren Road (indicated on the above map), the property feels entirely removed from Santa Barbara, and yet the Ritz-Carlton is less than a mile away. The listing says that “the land is primarily zoned AG-II-100 and MT-II-100, leaving the owner with a multitude of possibilities.” Here’s what Santa Barbara County Planning and Development, has to say about AG-II:
The intent of the AG-II zone is to preserve these lands for long-term agricultural use. The AG-II zone also includes a minimum gross lot area designation (shown in the table below) that limits the subdivision potential of land and in some cases affects the range of allowable land uses.
The minimum lot for AG-II-100 subdivisions is 100 acres. As for MT-II-100….
The MT-GOL and MT-TORO zones are applied to protect mountainous lands in the Goleta and Toro Canyon planning areas that are unsuited for intensive development, and that consist of (1) slopes in excess of 40 percent; or (2) valleys surrounded by slopes exceeding 40 percent; or (3) isolated table land surrounded by slopes exceeding 40 percent; or (4) areas with outstanding resource values, such as environmentally sensitive habitats and/or watersheds. The intent of the MT-GOL and MT-TORO zones is to allow reasonable but limited development because of extreme fire hazards, minimum services, and/or environmental constraints and to encourage the preservation of these areas for uses including grazing, scientific and educational study, limited residential and agricultural uses.
From what I can tell, the minimum lot size is once again 100 acres. Another possible constraint is the Gaviota Coast Plan, the boundary of which seems to run up the middle of the property.
Perhaps the Gaviota Coast Conservancy can enlist a good Samaritan will buy Eagle Canyon Ranch, preserve it, and open it to the public…. In the meantime, enjoy these photos—the photographer had a field day, literally and figuratively—and if you want more, there are a gazillion on the listing. For more information, contact Casey Gordon of Rodeo Realty (805-750-9804)—and be sure to tell him Siteline sent you.
Comment: