What's Proposed
Eagle Ranch is a 6,545 acre working cattle ranch located adjacent to the City of Atascadero. It is owned by members of the Smith Family, a longtime ranching family in Ventura County.
The family has announced plans to gift a permanent agricultural conservation easement on over 3,000 acres of Eagle Ranch to the Land Conservancy of SLO County, and to prepare a Specific Plan for the balance of the ranch for inclusion into the City of Atascadero. The Smith Family's vision for the future Eagle Ranch reflects a commitment to land stewardship and a development plan sensitive to the rural character of Atascadero.
Eagle Ranch: Conservation and a thoughtful development plan
The Eagle Ranch proposal is in its early stages, with many details yet to be refined. The Smith Family, owners of the ranch, have offered to place a permanent agricultural conservation easement on half the property at no cost to taxpayers, with the balance slated for annexation into the City of Atascadero.
The 3,095 acres identified for agricultural conservation will assure this portion of the ranch can continue as a working cattle ranch. For additional information on the proposed conservation agreement, view the Land Conservatory press release.
The balance of the ranch was identified as future expansion area for the city of Atascadero as part of the June 2002 City General Plan Update. This portion of the ranch was subdivided into 452 lots in 1914 by E.G. Lewis & Co. as part of the Atascadero Colony. Instead of developing the existing lots along existing dedicated roads, the owners are proposing the creation of a new reconfigured Specific Plan for the development area. The Specific Plan will provide a blueprint for the future development of this portion of the ranch. Uses currently being discussed within the Specific Plan include a variety of housing types, neighborhood commercial uses, park areas, trails, open space and a small ranch-style hotel and equestrian center. The Smith Family has chosen RRM Design Group to lead the Specific Plan effort.
The Smith Family vision for Eagle Ranch reflects the family's ties to this land and assures that when executed, Eagle Ranch will be a sensitive, environmentally friendly development. Click here to learn more about the Smith Family's vision for the project
