SMPAD Research Park and Golf Course

By Victor H "Vic" Bouquet

The Santa Maria Airport represents a powerful economic engine for our local area. We are now literally only months away from breaking ground for this impressive project.

I will admit that was my stated goal when running for the Board in 1995 - but this time we are close enough that I can assure you the Research Park and Golf Course will be a reality within the next two years. The Board has faithfully followed the dictates of the electorate in developing plans for the facilities. The research park will attract upscale, high technology companies offering good job opportunities. We plan to attract high tech light manufacturing and research companies that will appreciate the locale and planning that will be evident in this project. The corporate lots will interleave with an upscale golf course creating a campus-like setting that will not be available at any other location between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although designed as an upscale course, golf will be available at affordable mid-range green fees.

In pursuing these projects the Board is also involved in other separate but related initiatives that must be resolved in order to insure the successful completion of the Reseach Park and Golf Course. Negotiations are under way to resolve the following issues:

- Laguna Sanitation District to insure availability of water for irrigation of the Golf Course and Research Park landscaping.
- Relocation of the mobile home park currently located on a District leasehold. Several options are being explored for implementation before the lease expires in 2003.
- The District has applied for a low interest loan for infrastructure development from the California Infrstructure and Economic Development Bank (CIEDB)in Sacramento. Although the District has considerable capital reserves available for this project they must be supplemented by debt financing from the CIEDB in order to provide adequate financing for Research Park and golf course infrastructure development. Preliminary negotiations with CIEDB personnel in the California Trade and Commerce Agency in Sacramento have thus far been favorable and the required loan should be available this Fall of 2000.

Successful implementation of the Researrch Park and Golf Course project involves the timely resolution of a myriad of complex issues. The current Board has worked dilligently with staff toward that end.