Bishop Ranch Team Out

Developer Michael Keston’s hard-fought hopes of turning Goleta’s Bishop Ranch from open space into a small suburbia are over, as his option on the property is officially expired, meaning that the associated lawsuit against the City of Goleta over general plan amendments is also dead. So says attorney Chip Wulbrandt, who represents University Exchange Corporation, which owns the property, including the 240 acres between Highway 101 and Cathedral Oaks Road and the 3,000-plus in the foothills above.

As of Tuesday, City of Goleta officials had not received a dismissal of the case from Keston, which must be filed before the litigation is complete. Wulbrandt said that the owners do not have any other plans for the lower portion of the property, and will focus instead on the lemon and avocado orchards in the foothills.