Solvang, a California city that styles itself as the “Danish Capital of America,” is embroiled in a dispute over a proposed glamping resort. The controversy centers on a plan by developer Ed St. George to build a transient outdoor resort featuring 31 Airstream campers on a nearly 2.2-acre site near the downtown area. The proposal has ignited strong opposition from the Solvang Design Review Committee and local residents, who are concerned the project will undermine the town's unique storybook character.
Design and Character Concerns
The Solvang Design Review Committee voiced significant objections during a pre-application review meeting on August 20. A primary point of contention is a planned "lookout tower" for the resort, which one committee member, Melissa Bates, compared to a "gulag." Residents also questioned the compatibility of mid-century modern Airstream trailers with Solvang's mandated Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style, intended to complement the historic Old Mission Santa Ines. Resident Susan Belloni stated that the Airstreams "have anything in common with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture," while Dennis Beebe remarked that "if it looks like a trailer park and it gleams like a trailer park...it's a trailer park."
Developer's History in the Region
Ed St. George has been an active developer in the region, particularly since relocating to the area during the pandemic. His purchase of the iconic Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant in Buellton, with plans to demolish it for a luxury condominium project, has already drawn attention. Solvang has a history of conflict with St. George; his downtown hotel project, the 1704 Mission Hotel and Cottages, faced a stop-work order due to design modifications, prompting St. George to file a lawsuit against the city.
Project Status
City staff have directed St. George's team to revise the glamping resort plans to better align with development guidelines. The developer has been asked to return for a second pre-application review, an unusual step that indicates the project is not yet approved and requires substantial revisions. The site in question falls within the city's Mission Design District, which mandates adherence to Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
