A recently approved state Senate bill backed by Santa Barbara Senator Monique Limón has come under scrutiny for a provision that targets a widely unpopular housing project located next to Mission Santa Barbara. Many community members oppose the development for its scale and location, while pro-housing advocates hope to address Santa Barbara’s housing crisis.

The project is largely unpopular among local entities, with some arguing against its placement next to a historical site. Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus

In June, Governor Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers enacted sweeping reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires proponents of a project to disclose and attempt to lessen its environmental impacts. However, the process started by CEQA-related complaints, some often loosely related to the environment, can take years. The recent reforms exempt almost any proposed low- or mid-rise development in urban neighborhoods zoned for multifamily housing from CEQA, streamlining the development of many urban housing projects.

This month, Senate Bill (SB) 158, backed by Senator Limón, passed the legislature and was written to, among other things, define legal terms in the CEQA reforms and outline how those reforms are to be implemented. At the tail end of the bill, an added provision allows CEQA to still apply to projects that fall within a very specific set of criteria. Specifically, projects that are located in a city with a population of more than 85,000 but less than 95,000, a county with a population of more than 440,000 but less than 455,000 and on a parcel adjacent to a California historical landmark.

This criterion applies directly to the proposed 90-foot apartment building set to be built behind Mission Santa Barbara. Once called “a horrendous nightmare” by Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, the project falls within Senator Limón’s district. Located at 505 East Los Olivos Street, the proposed eight-story development would create 270 units, 54 of which would be for low-income residents, as well as 445 parking spaces and 255 bike spots. 

A letter critical of the project, signed by Santa Barbara architects, designers and planners, pointed to a variety of issues. First, the association dislikes the idea of such a large structure next to a historic site. Secondly, the letter states that the use of Builder’s Remedy laws, which developers may use to bypass zoning and General Plan standards when cities or counties are behind on meeting housing needs, has allowed the project to move forward despite safety concerns. 

Furthermore, according to investigations by Christina McDermott, a reporter with the Santa Barbara Independent, it’s unclear who is behind the project. The property is owned by a company called The Mission LLC, but their “managing member” is SoCal Holdings, a different LLC registered in New Mexico. The New Mexico address belongs to the firm New Mexico Registered Agent, a company that offers its address to be listed on public records. The project’s owners remain a mystery.

Despite these concerns, Santa Barbara is in desperate need of housing. According to a presentation by the City of Santa Barbara Housing Crisis Ad Hoc Committee, over 8,000 new units are needed, primarily for low-income residents. 

Because of the need for more housing and worries that Senator Limón is misusing her power, criticism of the provision in SB 158 and of the senator arose. Limón, already one of the most powerful Democrats in the state Senate, is set to become president pro tempore in November. 

Senator Limón provided a statement on SB 158 when the Nexus reached out for comment, stating she “provided feedback” on aspects of bills reforming CEQA, such as tribal consultation, habitat definition for protected species and advanced manufacturing. 

Jordan Grimes, the Resilience Manager with Greenbelt Alliance, a Bay Area non-profit that campaigns for the preservation of open spaces and smart growth, was the first to express concern that Senator Limón would use her power to target a project in her district.

“The exemptions in this trailer bill were obviously designed with a specific project in mind. There’s only one that makes sense, and it just happens to be a controversial apartment complex in the incoming pro-tem’s district,” Grimes wrote on Bluesky. “That she would use her power like this is extremely concerning.”

Jerry Roberts, a political journalist and founder of Santa Barbara Newsmakers, a multimedia journalism platform based in Santa Barbara, feels Limón is representing the will of her constituents by including the provision.

“I don’t see anything wrong with Senator Limón defending and representing her constituents in terms of popular opinion,” Roberts said in an interview with the Nexus. “If there is a state law which is attempting to preempt this in a way that does damage and does violence to her community, I absolutely think that’s exactly what she ought to be doing.”

Roberts also feels that broad state housing policy fails to account for the local communities it is applied to.

“​​That’s what’s wrong with all of these state housing requirements, they do not take into effect the [extreme] range of conditions within communities,” Roberts said. “Has anyone [in the legislature] given a single thought about where the water is going to come from, where the sewage is going to go, how many schools are going to be created? No. It’s just a number of units of housing.”

SB 158 is currently waiting on Governor Newsom to sign or veto it by Oct. 12. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 4 of the Oct. 2, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.