AG Bonta released a statement in response to the Santa Barbara County Superior Court’s decision requiring the City of Goleta to accept and process a preliminary application for a proposed affordable housing project by the Shelby Family Partnership. The project at issue would create 56 single-family homes, 13 of which would be affordable to lower-income households. A preliminary application is one submitted under the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Senate Bill 330). Senate Bill 330 allows anyone trying to build housing to “freeze” the standards applicable to their project by submitting an application that contains certain specified information.

“The ruling by the Santa Barbara County Superior Court is unambiguous: Goleta must allow the application to move forward. I urge the city to do so without any further delay, as required by our state housing laws. My office will continue to monitor the situation closely. Desperately needed affordable housing is at stake here.” – AG Bonta