Fairview Gardens Coverage

Noozhawk
Fairview Gardens, Neighbors Plant Seeds of Compromise

SB Daily Sound
Farm vows to clean up its act

SB Independent
Goleta Organic Farm Bows to Neighbors’ Complaints

General Plan Amendments - Public Workshop

The City Council will co-host with the Planning Commission three public workshops on proposed General Plan Amendments that are sponsored and initiated by the City. The first is on Saturday, September 15: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Plans Close For SB's First Islamic Mosque

Santa Barbara Newsroom
By Melinda Burns
June 21, 2007

Afaf Turjoman wasn’t sure what to say when her youngest daughter asked whether a mosque would ever be built -- when they’d stop having to go to a public community center for weekly prayers.

“I used to tell her, ‘Third grade, when you go to third grade, we’ll have a mosque,’” said Turjoman, a Muslim who has lived in Goleta for 30 years. “Now she’s going into fourth grade, and I don’t know what to tell her.”

The wait may soon be over for the area’s estimated 2,000 Muslims.

Plans for Santa Barbara County’s first mosque are now in the final design phase. A group of trustees for the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara will present plans to Goleta city officials and begin the public hearing phase in coming months.

The land for the mosque -- the central place of worship and community life for local Muslims -- was purchased six years ago at the corner of Los Carneros Road and Calle Real. Getting the building up has proven to be more difficult, those involved say.

Plans for the two-story worship center were stalled because of Goleta’s incorporation as a city; it has taken time for Goleta to complete citywide traffic studies and other environmental studies to approve such buildings.

It’s also taken time to raise money for the structure because Muslims are prohibited from paying interest on loans as a tenet of their faith, said Mukhtar Khan, a trustee at the Islamic Society. Most of the estimated $2 million it will cost to construct the mosque has to be raised up front or leaders have to find a donor willing to give them an interest-free loan.

This belief comes from Muslim law, known as Shariah law, developed from the teaching of Mohammad, who is viewed as the faith’s greatest prophet. The prohibition against interest is intended to keep Muslims out of the slavery of debt, followers say.

“In a Western society, it is difficult,” said Mohammed Zaman, president of the board for the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara.

American culture is in many ways built on the assumption of debt, so some Muslims do take out loans to pay for cars, homes and college tuition. There are also special financial institutions set up specifically to give loans to Muslims in a way that does not violate their beliefs.

But because the local group is building a mosque, considered a gateway to God, they want to stick as closely to religious law as possible, Zaman said. They plan to launch a formal fundraising campaign when the public hearing phase begins.

“I have been doing this for many years, and I believe that people will donate when the time comes,” said Zaman, a civil engineer. “I’ve never seen a good project stopped because of a lack of funding.”

The longer they wait, however, the more expensive the building becomes, those involved say. Back when plans were first proposed 2001, they expected the building to cost about $1 million. The price tag is skyrocketing due to inflation and increased building costs -- and they haven’t yet presented plans to city officials or heard from community members.

Most people have been supportive, Khan said. The property, about three-quarters of an acre, is surrounded by a museum to the north, open space to the west, a California Highway Patrol substation to the south and a ranch to the east.

The building is to be positioned to face northeast -- the direction toward Mecca. When Muslims recite their prayers five times a day, they face toward the Kaaba, a holy structure in Saudi Arabia they believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.

Without a central mosque, local Muslims pray at home, work or in groups. There is also a small mosque in northern Goleta near the Camino Real shopping center.

The Friday prayers, which draw the largest weekly crowd, are held in the main room of the Goleta Valley Community Center. Anywhere from 20 to 75 Muslims have gathered there for the past eight years while plans for a mosque get underway.

It is difficult to estimate how many Muslims live and worship in Santa Barbara County. The population is fluid because many are students at UCSB, studying here for a few years until they move or return to their native countries.

Leaders at the Islamic Society wanted to build the mosque in Goleta near the freeway for that very reason -- to make it as easy as possible to find for out-of-towners.

“Anyone can get off the freeway and see right where we are,” said Zaman, who moved to Santa Barbara 18 years ago.

There are still some details to iron out in the design of the building, but leaders say they want the building to blend in with the architecture of Santa Barbara County. One of the designs includes a domed structure that is not unlike some of the Moorish architecture seen elsewhere in the region, said Ken Minnow, a Muslim architect who is working on the project.

“The design really fits in with the character of Santa Barbara,” he said.

Leaders say it was also important to incorporate “green building” principles into the design, such as solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and use of recycled construction materials. It may add to the cost, but officials say it is part of their faith to care for the environment.

“Our prophet tells us that we are to be stewards of natural resources, and that we will have to answer for everything we consume,” Zaman said.

Leaders also want the mosque to include classrooms for children, a prayer hall upstairs and a downstairs area for community gatherings. Outdoor parking space is also planned.

Turjoman, who has been involved in many interfaith organizations in the area, said it will be nice to be able to invite Jewish, Christian and other religious leaders to their “home.”

“People have been so generous and welcoming of us,” she said. “It would be nice to have a place to be able to welcome the community.”

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Storke Road Drive Inn to Keep Drive Up Window First Opened in '66

Santa Barbara Newsroom
By Tom Schultz
June 12, 2007

A Goleta burger joint dating to the mid 1960s can keep its drive-up window, officials said Monday night, preserving the retro feel and longtime use of the mom-and-pop eatery.

In a 5-0 vote at a meeting laced with nostalgia, the Planning Commission shot down the concerns of an adjacent property owner, who questioned during an appeal of remodel permits issued by the city whether idling cars and trucks at The Storke Road Drive Inn would increase air pollution to the detriment of nearby businesses.

Sandy Roberts, owner of a business plaza home to at least two high-tech firms, argued through a representative that the eatery at 370 Storke had shut down for more than a year from October 2005 to November 2006, which he said constituted an abandonment of the business.

If so, it would make the restaurant susceptible under city rules to losing its food service window — a feature considered a legal but non-conforming use since 1981, when Santa Barbara County began requiring conditional use permits for drive-up windows.

"We're not arguing the use of the property as a restaurant itself," planning consultant Gordon Bell told the commission on behalf of Roberts.

Restaurant owner John Price says he intends to renovate the low-slung, 1,230-square-foot Drive Inn, located across from County Fire Station No. 13. He got city permission on April 30. Roberts filed his appeal on May 8.

His intention, evident in his effort to improve the property by obtaining city permits, shows the opposite of abandonment, attorney Peter Brown told commissioners on behalf of Price.

The commissioners agreed.

"I can't see where he (Roberts) made his case," Commissioner Ken Knight said.

In defending against the appeal, Brown acknowledged that the restaurant's hours had been limited recently and said the structure was being used primarily to serve coffee when operational.

While it had an "open" sign up late Monday afternoon, nobody was working inside. The only activity on the one-acre property was at a self-service car wash to the rear of the restaurant.

The Drive Inn was known in past incarnations as "Dairy Delight" and also the "Aloha Restaurant," Brown said.

With some questioning whether the place was shut down for good, online reviews speak favorabley of the Drive Inn property and its four-decade presence in Goleta.

"It was absolutely delicious! It's always a treat to find local jewels, and I plan to be a frequent visitor," one commenter wrote on John Dickson's restaurant guide at www.santabarbara.com.

"The burgers were awesome. That's all I can say about that. However, you're going to have to put your own salt on the fries," wrote another contributor.

A half dozen residents spoke Monday in favor of it re-opening the Drive Inn with its drive-up feature.

"It's a gateway to our community, especially Storke Ranch," Nancy Ramirez told the commission. "I'd like to see something done."

Mark Ingalls, manager of Camino Real Marketplace across the road from the Drive Inn, spoke on behalf of the restaurant and recalled trips there from his childhood.

"I can remember a lof of ice cream cones coming out of that place," he said.

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Neighbors Line Up Against Costco Gas Station

Santa Barbara Newsroom
By Tom Schultz
May 22, 2007

Neighbors of a proposed gas station at Costco told the Goleta City Council on Monday they do not welcome the project, fearing fumes, fuel truck trips and added traffic congestion at Hollister Avenue and Storke Road.

This comes amid opposition to the proposal from staff analysts at the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, an agency that must decide whether the project would conform to safety standards associated with the nearby Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. Oil and gas storage is incompatible with the Costco site, located in an airplane landing approach zone, according to a May 15 letter from an SBCAG planner to Goleta officials who circulated the correspondence Monday.

While backers of the project said it would not severely impact parking at Camino Real Marketplace, the shopping center home to Costco, neighbors wondered aloud how that might be possible. Some threatened to cancel their Costco memberships if the project goes through. The station would eliminate 88 parking spots.

"It poses concerns about safety and quality of life," Bill Rosen, a nearby condo complex resident, told the council.

Warehouse chains like Costco entered the vehicle fuels market about 10 years ago across the country. With Costco membership fees offsetting merchandise prices, Costco gas typically sells for less than fuel at other locations. At the time, Costco gas ran about 13 cents less than retail gasoline elsewhere.

Amid record prices at the pump nationwide, members of the wholesale "big box" chain would likely seize upon the chance to buy less expensive gas. But first the project needs to pass muster with local officials.

Those who spoke in opposition to the proposal to carve 16 fueling spots from the marketplace parking lot raised a raft of concerns, among them: the proximity to homes, neighborhood children breathing fumes, placing another gas station in the area, the possibility for increased fire risks and the potential for ground water contamination.

Nobody from the public spoke in favor of the project, and Costco offered little by way of a defense.

Peter Brown, a lawyer for the wholesaler, stated toward the onset of the hearing that the project would not negatively impact parking. Toward the end, he told the council the company would respond to all other concerns later, and in writing.

That strategy drew a rebuke from Councilman Roger Aceves.

"I am a little not pleased with the applicant, in that the time to discuss this is in public," Aceves said. "I hope that letter can be published in time so the public can respond to it."

Aceves also said he was concerned that the gas station would impact the Costco food court.

Nothing was decided Monday. The council reviewed a city draft environmental impact report (EIR) that states the project would reduce parking spots and expose the public to increased risk in the event of a plane crash.

Noting Santa Barbara Airport is located approximately 1 mile east of the proposed site, the report lays out pros and cons of the proposal.

"The project's incremental increase in risk exposure for aircraft accidents from the nearby Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is considered a significant and unavoidable impact," according to the report. "While the frequency of occurrence for such an event would be very low, the consequences would be categorized as major, which collectively result in a significant societal risk exposure. "

In addition, the report states, "the loss of 88 parking spaces in close proximity to the entrance of the existing Costco warehouse would occur during periods of peak demand, resulting in inadequate parking for Costco warehouse customers within a reasonable (500 foot) distance of the entrance.

"This is considered a significant impact, and while possible mitigation of this impact could be achieved through the reconfiguration of the warehouse to provide a second entrance at the southeast corner of the building, this reconfiguration does not appear to be feasible or desired by the project applicant."

Council members asked for more information about how many daily fuel truck trips the station would generate — some estimates place the figure at several times that of nearby gas stations combined. Council members also asked for more information on parking trends at the shopping center.

"Obviously, this will be a controversial issue for the community," Councilman Eric Onnen said.

The station would be built to the north of the northwest corner of Costco, which was approved by Santa Barbara County in 1997 before Goleta incorporated in 2002.The station would include a pump island canopy, four fuel dispenser islands with four self-serve pumps each, a controller enclosure and three underground gasoline storage tanks with associated pipes and monitoring systems, according to Goleta.

An estimated 12 to 16 million gallons of gasoline per year would be dispensed. The proposed hours of operation for the proposed site would be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

The canopy structure would be approximately 10,800 square feet in size, according to the city.

The nearest gas stations to the proposed project are at the northwest and southeast corners of Storke Road and Hollister Avenue. The nearest residential developments are the Pacific Oak Apartments and the Pacific Palms condominium complex approximately 600 feet to the northwest of the proposed site.

The public can comment on the draft EIR through Thursday at City Hall.

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Goleta to Weigh Pros and Cons of Costco Gas Proposal

Santa Barbara Newsroom
By Tom Schultz
May 21, 2007

A gas station proposed for Costco in Goleta would reduce parking spots and expose the public to increased risk in the event of a plane crash, officials say -- but would also give members of the big box chain a new option for obtaining less expensive fuel.

The Goleta City Council today considers a draft report, one focused on environmental impacts of the proposal to carve 16 fueling stations from the parking lot at Camino Real Marketplace.

Warehouse chains like Costco entered the vehicle fuels market about 10 years ago across the country. With Costco membership fees offsetting merchandise prices, Costco gas typically sells for less than fuel at other locations.

“Since Costco’s gasoline prices are significantly lower than surrounding competitors’ prices, Costco gasoline is a consumer draw,” the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing reported in the late 1990s.

At the time, Costco gas ran about 13 cents less than retail gasoline elsewhere. This past week, a company spokesman could not be reached for comment.

While some residents back a Costco gas station in Goleta, others worry it would compound traffic problems and create more fumes near Girsh Park.

"We don't want it," nearby residents Fracsesca Cleyet and Cynthia Ruano wrote the city last month, noting the existence of other nearby gas stations. "When we agreed to have Costco in the neighborhood, we agreed very reluctantly. . . We gave them an inch, and they want a mile."

Last month, Goleta resident Frank Katch wrote the city to lend his support.

“You know when you shop at Costco for gasoline you will get either the lowest price in the area or very close,” he wrote. “I want the convenience. I want one-stop shopping.”

Noting Santa Barbara Airport is located approximately 1 mile east of the proposed site, a city draft environmental impact report (EIR) lays out pros and cons of the proposal.

"The project's incremental increase in risk exposure for aircraft accidents from the nearby Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is considered a significant and unavoidable impact," according to the report. "While the frequency of occurrence for such an event would be very low, the consequences would be categorized as major, which collectively result in a significant societal risk exposure. "

In addition, the report states, "the loss of 88 parking spaces in close proximity to the entrance of the existing Costco warehouse would occur during periods of peak demand, resulting in inadequate parking for Costco warehouse customers within a reasonable (500 foot) distance of the entrance. This is considered a significant impact, and while possible mitigation of this impact could be achieved through the reconfiguration of the warehouse to provide a second entrance at the southeast corner of the building, this reconfiguration does not appear to be feasible or desired by the project applicant."

The station would be built to the north of the northwest corner of Costco, which was approved by Santa Barbara County in 1997 before Goleta incorporated in 2002.

The station would include a pump island canopy, four fuel dispenser islands with four self-serve pumps each, a controller enclosure and three underground gasoline storage tanks with associated pipes and monitoring systems, according to Goleta.

An estimated 12 to 16 million gallons of gasoline per year would be dispensed. The proposed hours of operation for the proposed site would be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

The gas station would be available to Costco Warehouse members only.

The canopy structure would be approximately 10,800 square feet in size, according to the city.

The nearest gas stations to the proposed project are at the northwest and southeast corners of Storke Road and Hollister Avenue. The nearest residential developments are the Pacific Oak Apartments and the Pacific Palms condominium complex approximately 600 feet to the northwest of the proposed site.

The public can comment on the draft EIR through Thursday at City Hall.

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City of Goleta Public Hearings - Planning Agency

Hearing Location:
Goleta City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta, CA 93117

Hearing Date and Time:
March 12, 2007, 6pm

Public Hearing to Consider:

• 6067 Shirrell Way
  Goleta Presbyterian Church Appeal of Issuance of Sign Certificate of Conformance
• 5505 to 5585 Overpass Road
  Sumida Gardens Final Development Plan Time Extension