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Residents urge council to reconsider 88‑unit Glenway apartment plan, citing safety, traffic and environmental concerns
Summary
Dozens of Solvang residents spoke May 11 against a proposed 88‑unit apartment project at the Alisal/Glenn area, warning of traffic congestion, emergency egress problems, loss of open space, wildlife impacts and limited prior notice; council listened but took no action on the project at the meeting.
Good evening: Dozens of Solvang residents urged the City Council May 11 to halt or substantially redesign a proposed high‑density apartment project near Alisal Road and Glenn Way, saying the 88‑unit, three‑story plan is out of scale with the neighborhood, would worsen traffic and create evacuation risks.
George Fleming, who identified himself as a 10‑year resident of Rancho Sanz Estates, told the council the project “would destroy one of the last existing open spaces in Solvang” and summarized neighborhood opposition from a residents association. Several other speakers said they had not received adequate notice. Jan Paul read a prepared statement opposing the development and said, “This project is simply not the right fit for our neighborhood.”
Speakers cited a consistent set of concerns: insufficient parking and likely on‑street overflow; higher traffic volumes on Alisal and Juniper that could endanger pedestrians and children; constrained emergency egress on a neighborhood with only a few exit points; and environmental and cultural worries, including reports of large owls in the area and arrowheads found near the site. Barbara Montgomery specifically urged the council to check whether local raptors are a protected species and to involve Chumash archaeologists after residents reported finding arrowheads.
Council members acknowledged the intensity of the public comment. Council member Claudia Arona said safety and evacuation issues are real but noted an important legal constraint: when the city completed its housing element and rezoning work staff were instructed not to consider some matters such as traffic and certain infrastructure conditions in the rezoning decision. Arona urged residents to attend forthcoming workshops on the urban growth boundary and other public meetings where the city will seek input.
City staff did not bring a final decision on the apartment proposal to the council that night, and no vote on the project was recorded in the May 11 proceedings. Several speakers requested clearer, earlier notification from the city and more opportunities for neighborhood review if the project moves forward.
What happens next: The Glenway/Alisal matter generated substantial public comment at the May 11 meeting; the transcript shows no council vote on the project that evening. Residents were advised to follow upcoming public workshops and hearings for any formal actions, and several council members pointed to additional outreach and urban‑boundary discussions planned for the spring and summer.
Reporting note: Quotations and attributions come from the Solvang City Council meeting transcript of May 11, 2026. This article limits attributions to speakers identifiable in the transcript (George Fleming; Jan Paul; Barbara Montgomery; Council member Claudia Arona).
