Goleta, CA
Home MenuFairview Gardens
June 3, 2026
Fairview Gardens Conditional Use Permit; Case Numbers 25-0001-CUP; 25-0003-DRB
Project Applicant/Owner: Michael Ableman, for The Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens,
Agent for Applicant: Heidi Jones, Meraki Land Use Consulting
Project Location (Addresses and APN): 598 N. Fairview Avenue, Goleta CA 93117, County of Santa Barbara, APN: 069-090-052
Zoning and Project Description: The General Plan/Local Coastal Plan Land Use designation and zoning for the site is Agricultural. The site is in the Inland area of the city.
The following are elements of the CUP request:
- Addition of nine new residential units on site. Eight two- bedroom farm employee dwellings units varying in size from 855 -890 sq. ft. are proposed in the northeastern portion of the site and one unit is proposed within the existing farmhouse building.
- Renovation and adaptive re-use of the Fairview Gardens historic farmhouse building. The farmhouse would be used as a flexible use café/patron area, teaching/staging kitchen, 1st and 2nd floor office space, and a 2nd floor studio dwelling unit.
- New 2,500 sq. ft. farmstand along Fairview Avenue.
- New multi-functional 6,500 sq. ft. barn for produce packing and processing etc. Approximately 1,000 sq. ft. of this structure would be used as gathering space for educational programming and events.
- New 730 sq. ft. education pavilion (roofed trellis structure).
- New 370 sq. ft. restroom building.
- Provision of 46 vehicular parking spaces scattered throughout the site as follows:
- Nine (9) parking spaces adjacent to the Farmstand.
- Eight (8) parking spaces adjacent to the farmworker housing units.
- Twenty-five (25) parking spaces adjacent to the multi-functional barn.
- Four (4) parking spaces for farm support vehicles adjacent to the multi-functional barn.
- Provision of twenty-four (24) bicycle parking spaces including 8 adjacent to the farmworker housing site.
- Provision of one (1) bus/van drop-off space adjacent to the multi-functional barn.
- Keeping of 100 chickens and 26 goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle per Section 17.41.060 (Animal Keeping).
- Use of off-site parking locations for special events and festivals that exceed the on-site parking capacity. The off-site parking areas are proposed at First Church of Christ, Scientist (58 parking spaces), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (81 parking spaces), Goleta Union School District (58 parking spaces), and Fairview Gardens has secured Memorandums of Understanding with each of these entities.
- Farm operations will include 24 (minimum) to 34 (maximum) staff members depending on the season and ongoing farming activities Monday – Saturday.
- Three types/levels of programs and events are proposed to occur on site:
- Programs/Workshops - Children: These include field trips, spring break and summer camp programs, and after school program. The time period for these is between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. all year long. Attendance at these programs is estimated to range from 25 – 100 people. Some of the programs would occur between 3-5 per week and others would be once a year (spring break camp).
- Programs/Workshops – Adults: These include culinary workshop, farming, and gardening workshops. The time period for these is 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., a maximum of 100 people, and would occur 20 times per month.
- Events: These include fundraising events, farm-to-table meals, seasonal events, open house, lectures etc. The estimated attendance is between 250-750 attendees and could occur between 4-8 per year, excluding the farm-to-table meals. The farm-to-table meals are planned to occur 5 times per month. These events would occur in the evenings during the week and during the day on weekends. The use of amplified music is proposed for these events.
- Festivals: Five (5) festivals are planned with an estimated attendance of between 800-1500 visitors. These events would occur on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Sundays between 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The use of amplified music is proposed.
The adaptive reuse of the historic farmhouse will be a multi-purpose building, with the following program/functions/areas:
- Flexible Use Café - Patron Area: 590 SF seating area that doubles for use for youth and adult educational programs. While the café will be available to the public, the primary audience for the café are people already on-site attending programs.
- Teaching/Staging Kitchen: 218 SF of support space for the café and culinary educational program.
- 1st & 2nd Floor Office Space: 688 SF consisting of a reception area, three (3) offices, and two (2) restroom space.
- 2nd Floor Studio Dwelling Unit: A 337 SF studio to provide for flexible staff housing needs.
CEQA Determination
The City has determined that above described project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000 et seq.), the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations, §§ 15000, et seq.: State CEQA Guidelines), and the City’s Environmental Review Guidelines, the project has been found to be exempt from CEQA under § 15332 of the CEQA Guidelines. As a result, a Notice of Exemption is proposed.
The City of Goleta is acting as the Lead Agency for this project. The Class 32 consists of projects characterized as in-fill development where the project is: (a) consistent with the applicable General Plan designation and all applicable General Plan policies, as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations; (b) occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; (c) has no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species; (d) would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and (e) is adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
Consistent with the requirements of the Class 32 requirements above and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15300.2, Exceptions to the Exemption, the entirety of the project falls within the Class 32 Exemption set forth in State CEQA Guidelines §15332.
Notice of Exemption Documents
The Notice of Exemption for the project and the supporting technical materials can be accessed below:
- Notice of Exemption
- Historic Resources Report
- Updated Event Traffic Management Plan and General Plan Consistency Analysis
- Acoustics Analysis 8-19-21
- Acoustics Analysis 12-18-24
- Traffic, Parking and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Study
- Air Quality/Greenhouse Gases Memo 12-10-25
- Stormwater Control Plan
Notice of Hearing
Previous Hearings
Historic Preservation Commission on April 20, 2026:
Staff Contact:
Comments and questions regarding the project and/or review process can be directed to Brian Hiefield, Senior Planner at bhiefield@cityofgoleta.gov or by phone at 805-961-7559.