We, the residents and supporters of Los Alamos, CA, respectfully request that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors reconsider the Planning Commission’s approval of the 69‑home subdivision proposed for our community. The project raises serious concerns about safety, noise, infrastructure capacity, fire danger, and the long‑term character of our small‑town, country living environment and views.

Los Alamos is a small rural community with very limited infrastructure, high fire risk, and a long‑established character that residents have relied on for decades. The recent approval of a 69‑rental‑home subdivision was made without proper notice to many directly affected neighbors and without fully evaluating the impacts this project will have on safety, privacy, and essential services.

We are asking the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to reconsider this approval and require additional review based on the following concerns:

1. Lack of Notice to Affected Residents

Many nearby residents were never informed of the hearings or given an opportunity to participate. A project of this scale requires meaningful public outreach, which did not occur.

2. High Fire Danger & Routine Power Shutoffs

Los Alamos is located in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and experiences routine Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) affecting more than 50 residents at a time. Adding a large subdivision increases evacuation challenges and emergency response risks that were not adequately analyzed.

3. Insufficient Infrastructure

Los Alamos does not have the capacity to support this level of growth. Current limitations include:

• Water supply
• Wastewater capacity
• Traffic circulation
• Emergency access
• School capacity
• Postal service capacity (no home delivery, limited PO boxes)
• Highway access and off‑ramp safety: The existing 101 off‑ramp into Los Alamos would require significant redesign to safely accommodate increased traffic volumes. As currently configured, the ramp directs vehicles abruptly into town, creating a major safety hazard that has not been adequately evaluated. Increased traffic from a 69‑home subdivision would further strain an already unsafe and outdated roadway design.

4. Loss of Privacy & Rural Character

The project will permanently alter long‑standing views, privacy, and the small‑town character that defines Los Alamos. Homes that have had uninterrupted rural surroundings since the 1990s will be directly impacted. The rolling hillsides in the cover photo will change dramatically.

5. Cumulative Impacts Not Considered

Another development is already underway on the opposite end of town. The combined impacts of multiple projects were not evaluated together, despite their significant effect on traffic, safety, and infrastructure.

Our Request

We urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to:

• Reconsider the project approval
• Require additional environmental, safety, and infrastructure review
• Ensure proper public outreach to affected residents
• Evaluate alternatives that better protect the safety, character, and capacity of Los Alamos

Signed,
Residents and supporters of Los Alamos