Goleta Valley Voice Letter: Wake Up, Noleta

The letter we mentioned below, "Noleta residents backed into corner" also appears in this weeks Goleta Valley Voice. (Click here for the letter.)

Wake up, Noleta

If you live near AG-zoned or other undeveloped parcels, you are between a rock and a hard spot.

When a developer proposes to build on that parcel, you can:

• Do nothing, which will result in gargantuan McMansions such as those built creekside of Foothill School, or those currently being built at Kellogg and Camino Campana.

• Spend countless hours of your time and energy trying to “mitigate the negative impacts” which will result in earth-toned, slightly scaled-down McMansions, such as the almost 6,000 sq. ft. homes recently approved by the Planning Commission for 1118 N. Patterson Ave., the former Sexton home and ranch.

However, be forewarned that if you choose the latter, you can expect (despite a united protest by 33 immediate and nearby neighbors) to receive a humiliating, public dressing-down for your selfish and “troubling attitude” in thinking that neighboring property owners have any rights vis-à-vis developers.

This tongue-lashing will come from two of the North County Planning Commissioners, particularly 3rd District Commissioner David Smyser.

It will also be suggested that if you don’t like that huge, new, multimillion-dollar house looking into your windows and backyard (from previously zoned AG land), you should buy it yourself.

Furthermore, you can rest assured that, even though over 60 neighbors signed a petition addressing concerns over traffic speeding along North Patterson Avenue, 4th District Commissioner Joe Valencia has driven that road “several times” and found that speeding is not a problem.

Mary and Ender Kuntsal
Noleta

Thoughts?