[Scpg] The Gaviota Plan & Our Future June 11

Sat Jun 8 17:45:39 PDT 2013

Gaviota Coast Conservancy

working to preserve the rural character of the Gaviota Coast

Help Determine the Gaviota Plan for the Future of our coast!
Take Action Now!

WHAT:     First Public hearing on the Draft Gaviota Coast Plan that will be initiated for environmental review

WHEN:     Tuesday June 11, 2013 at 9:00AM (note, this is the only item on the agenda and is expected to go all day, to be followed by a similar all-day Planning Commission hearing on 6/25 or 26, and likely several more)

WHERE:   Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara

Project Staff Report and other Project materials are available on the County’s website at:

http://www.sbcountyplanning.org/boards/pc/cpc_documents.cfm?DocID=12507 

***Written comments for the Commission may be submitted electronically to dvillalo at co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

OVERVIEW

The County began the process of developing a long-term land use plan for the Gaviota Coast in 2009.  The Gaviota Coast Planning Advisory Committee (GavPAC) engaged in a multi-year effort to develop a draft plan, which has now been vetted by Planning and Development Staff.  The result of this process is the “Initiation Draft Gaviota Coast Plan” that the Planning Commission will review in a series of public hearings, before it is reviewed by the Board of Supervisors.  An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will then be prepared for the Draft Plan before it is finalized.  While still early in the process, now is the best time for public participation to meaningfully shape the policy language. 

At the June 11th hearing (a Special Hearing devoted entirely to this topic), the Planning Commission will consider three chapters of the Draft Gaviota Coast Plan including: Transportation, Energy & Infrastructure; Parks, Recreation & Trails; and Land Use & Zoning.  Members of the public are asked to limit comments to these topics.  We expect that each Topic will be taken separately - Staff will present the section, public comment will be taken, and the Planning Commission will discuss and deliberate.  The remaining topics including Visual Resources, Natural & Cultural Resources, and Agriculture will be considered at later hearings.

SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS

General:

·         The Draft Plan needs strengthening to meet the Plan’s goals and to protect the character and extraordinary resources of the Gaviota Coast.The Plan must strike a better balance between the interests of land owners in allowing for some limited development and the need to protect the unique resources of the area.

Parks, Recreation & Trails:

·         The Coastal Trail should be as close to the ocean as possible, however the beach itself is not appropriate for the primary Coastal Trail alignment, since access during high tide conditions is severely limited. 

·         The Plan should not prioritize the establishment of trails, access, and recreational opportunities on public lands first, then private lands of willing landowners, then as part of discretionary land use approvals.  The County should seek to establish trails, access, and recreational opportunities on all these lands as the opportunities arise.

·         The Draft Plan must be revised to require that the County acquire and establish public beach access between Gaviota State Park and Jalama Beach County Park (Hollister and Bixby ranches)

Land Use:  

·         The Land Use policies need significant strengthening to ensure that residential uses on agricultural lands do not jeopardize agriculture, or compromise the character or resources of the Gaviota Coast. 

·         The Plan should cap the size of primary residences at 2,000 square feet, and adopt a transfer of development rights (TDR) program to allow bigger houses in exchange for eliminating development on substandard lots.

·         The Draft Plan’s treatment of non-conforming parcels and uses needs substantial additional work to ensure that development on highly constrained parcels does not damage the character and resources of the Gaviota Coast.

Transportation, Energy & Infrastructure

·         The Plan should establish a minimum buffer between development and abandoned oil and gas facilities.

·         The Plan should require that the County establish a timeline for closing Tajiguas Landfill.

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