Oak Tree Protection Program

Oak Tree Protection Program

The purpose of the proposed Oak Protection Program is to require permits and/or environmental review where necessary for specific levels of native oak tree removal, and to institute a County goal of retention, and where feasible, increase of oak trees over time. The project consists of amendments to the County's Comprehensive Plan, and the addition of a new ordinance to the County Code. The project does not include amendments to the Local Coastal Plan or to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance. The program would apply to all unincorporated lands subject to Santa Barbara County's Zoning Ordinance (including the Community Plan areas) that are outside of the coastal zone and urban areas, and have the following land use designations: A-I, A-II, AC, MA, Other Open Lands, and their associated zone districts which include AG, AG-I, AG-II, A-I-X, AL, U, WA, MT and RES. These areas total approximately 770,000 acres. The project would not apply in the program, would not apply in Environmentally Sensitive Habitat (ESH)-Goleta and the proposed ESH-Toro Canyon overlay areas (located in the Goleta and proposed Toro Canyon Community Plan areas), where oak tree protection standards already exist.

Santa Barbara

Other (Proposed new General Plan policies and new Ordinance)

General Plan Amendment, Community Plan, New Ordinance

Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Geology/Soils, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire, Wildlife