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.

Worker Housing Idea

SB Independent

The idea of building new homes that could be sold in perpetuity only to Goleta workers was raised at the 12th Annual Goleta Economic Forecast as an alternative to more traditional affordable housing schemes, which provide housing at below-market rates to low to moderate income buyers. Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Kristen Amyx said the scheme's legality has yet to be explored, and a developer found who is willing to try it out, but she praised its simplicity as a potential solution to the workforce housing shortage.

Travis Armstrong vs. Kristen Amyx and the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce: Round 3

Round 3... Travis Armstrong's opinion column today: "S.B. public money goes for Goleta politicking?"

Travis Armstrong vs. Kristen Amyx and the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce: Round 2

Round 2... Travis Armstrong's opinion column today: "Goleta chamber going off course?"

Goleta Chamber: Response to News-Press Column

Dear Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce Members:

The Chamber Board of Directors and staff have been dealing with an issue recently that I now need to bring to your attention regarding our relationship with the Santa Barbara New-Press.

My husband and I read the News-Press at home each morning before going to work. Lately there has been fewer and fewer business in Goleta stories in this paper, so there was no reason to also receive the paper in our office. Although our office used to diligently clip business and Goleta news from the paper, without any stories to save I felt it prudent to not spend money on a subscription. It was an executive decision, not a public statement.

Travis Armstrong called Friday, June 8th to ask me about the cancellation Mr. Armstrong and I have had a very productive relationship; I always considered him someone I could talk to about local Goleta issues. When he called about the subscription, I was happy to hear from him, but sorry to give him the customer feedback about why I had canceled the subscription. He was angry and very threatening. I imagine there is enormous pressure at the News-Press these days and that Mr. Armstrong is under a great deal of stress.

On Friday, Mr. Armstrong wrote an editorial questioning our volunteer Chairman of the Board. This is an unwarranted criticism as it is common for businesses and individuals to join a Chamber in communities in which they live, work, volunteer or play.

The Chamber Board of Directors has responded to Mr. Armstrong's telephone call to me by reaffirming its support of the Chamber's actions, policies and professional staff.

I look forward to my next communication with you, our membership, and getting back to the important work that is going on in the Goleta Valley, at the Chamber and in our community.

In the mean time I have flown across the country to be with my sister, who is having her first baby. If you need any assistance, please contact Anna Thomas, my administrative assistant, at Anna@GoletaValley.com.

Sincerely,
Kristen Amyx

Travis Armstrong vs. Kristen Amyx and the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce: Round 1

Craig Smith has an update today on his story from Wednesday, June 13th, in which Travis Armstrong told Amyx "I will ruin you." Craig reports that in this morning's News-Press Armstrong appears to to be getting a start on making good on that threat.

Goleta Chamber: General Plan Amendment Meeting

An email from the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce:

When: Monday, April 16th, 6:00 pm
What: City Council Meeting on Amending the General Plan
Where: City Council Chambers, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta

All Chamber Members [All members of the community, really] are requested to attend. Please come stand up - or speak up - for changes to the General Plan. Our City Council needs our support and input while making this important decision. The General Plan still needs much work to become a workable, legally defensible document that improves the living and business conditions within our City.

Thank you for your support. Please attend, notify your employees and neighbors, and we'll see you there.

Goleta Chamber Supports City Council DRB Vote

An email from Kristen Amyx, President & CEO, Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce

I wanted to alert you to something that needs our attention - this past Monday, March 19th, the Goleta City Council took a huge step forward in addressing the most volatile issue that has effected Goleta in the past few years -- private property rights. After being elected in November, the Council quickly went to work on changing the planning process for single family homes, remodels, additions, 2nd stories and garage conversions. Working with the design review board, they proposed changes to streamline and correct the process for making changes to your private property.

The Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce is extremely pleased to see such swift, deliberate and well-thought-out leadership on this issue.

On Monday, the Council voted to immediately rescind the rule that homes may only be expanded by 50% of their existing square footage changing a policy that had become a flashpoint in the community. They also voted to change (this is an edited summary):

• size of the Design Review Board to 7 members (from 9)
• modify the 3-step approval process for projects so that 2 or more steps can be combined if warranted
• moved the point of appeal forward to the 2nd step
• priority of preparing a new sign ordinance
• Floor area ratio standards (FARS) from absolute standards to guides and decided to review further changes needed to FARs
• reduction to 10 foot setback along secondary front line (10 feet is twice the minimum setback width that is generally provided)
• Land Use Permits for discretionary projects no longer must be subject to notice and appeal.

Many, many Goletans will applaud the Council for fixing a broken system that put unnecessary burdens on homeowners; however, there are critics as well.

So, please send your congratulations and thanks to the Councilmembers - by email, phone, fax or letter. You may also want to send a letter to the editor of your local paper. We don't want it to look like there is no support for the fine and reasonable work that the Council is doing. Don't let the vocal minority be the only voices heard by the Council or your neighbors.

Thank you in advance for taking just a moment to jot down your appreciation.

Sincerely,
Kristen Amyx

P.S. Even if you do not live in the City of Goleta, it is important that support be given to those who are working to be a model City with property-rights protections for all.

P.P.S. Below is the picture and text from today's Goleta Valley Voice newspaper story on the issue. The photo associated with the story is of a house that is not in the City of Goleta. http://www.goletavalley.com/temp/07-03.19VVarticle.pdf

2007 Goleta's Finest Winners Announced

The 2007 Goleta's Finest Awards Winners have been announced! Goleta's Finest is a 59-year old tradition honoring remarkable individuals whose contributions have enhanced the Goleta community.

The awards recipients will be honored with a formal celebration on Thursday, April 12th at the elegant Bacara Resort & Spa. During the cocktail hour, guests may bid on items in a silent auction benefiting the Goleta Education Foundation. Later in the evening a live auction will be held to benefit Computers for Families, the Goleta Education Foundation, and the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce. Dinner, the awards ceremony, and dancing to live entertainment featuring Konrad Kono will follow.

The 2007 Goleta's Finest winners are:

• Patricia Weeks, Woman of the Year
• Denny Franks, Man of the Year
• Dan Cooperman, Educator of the Year
• Brent Elder, Educator of the Year
• Bob Yost, Human Services Professional of the Year
• Duy Nguyen, Student of the Year
• Leslie Lund, Volunteer of the Year
• SBParent.com, Small Business of the Year
• Business First National Bank, Large Business of the Year

The cost to attend Goleta's Finest is $125 per person, or $1000 per table of eight. Tickets may not be purchased at the door, so contact the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce at (805) 967-2500 or email anna@goletavalley.com in advance to secure your seats!

The 2007 Goleta's Finest awards ceremony is sponsored by the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce and Bacara Resort & Spa.