Goleta Chamber Action Alert Follow Up - General Plan - Track 2 Amendments

From Tom Blabey at the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce:

After a year and half of public input, study, and thorough review, the Goleta City Council last night voted to approve all ~45 Track 2 amendments to the General Plan, ranging from land use to traffic to safety element policies. (Track 2 amendments did not require further environmental review)

With only minor exceptions, the Goleta Valley Chamber supported the approved amendments and is please that the Council has completed this first stage in fulfilling campaign promises to fix the General Plan. Below is a brief summary of some of the approved amendments of particular interest to the Chamber:

• Retail and Other Commercial Centers (LU 1.6) - Now includes large regional commercial centers in language regarding design standards for new and renovated structures. Policy is now consistent with existing conditions.
• Transfer of Development Rights Ordinance/Program (LU IA-6) - Now allows the consideration of "areas outside the City's jurisdiction as sender and/or receiver sites" to "facilitate regional planning goals."
• Building Intensity Standards - Per advice from the City Attorney, the Council voted to retain the Floor to Area (FAR) tables in the General Plan, with added language that the standards are "recommended." The Council then directed staff to recalculate the FAR figures to accurately reflect current conditions in the city.
• Coastal Resort Parcels (LU 9.1) - Council removed an arbitrary cap on the number of units at Bacara Resort as not appropriate for a General Plan.
  
• Visual and Historic Element Policies - "Protect" now replaces "preserve" as more appropriate language, per definitions provided by staff and input from the community.
• Limitation on Expansion of Intersections (TE 6.5) - Now clarifies that the Storke/Hollister intersection is exempt from the city-wide seven lane cap, reflecting both current conditions and city staff's need for flexibility to properly plan for traffic impacts related to growth outside the city limits.

Next up, staff will present the Planning Commission with recommendations for Track 3 amendments in late summer or early fall.

The Goleta Valley Chamber applauds both city planning staff and the Council for their diligence throughout the comprehensive review process.

If you would like further information or have any questions regarding the Council's actions, please contact Tom Blabey at the Chamber at 967-2500 or via email at tom@goletavalley.com. Or you may view the city staff reports on the city's website www.cityofgoleta.org.