From: Nina Meyer <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2023 2:28 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Cc: 'Fred W. Meyer'; 'GERALD PELTON'; 'Pamela Pelton'
Subject: RESIDENT COMMENT: GOLETA CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MARCH 21, 2023 RE: Agenda Item A.8 CPMS – Goleta City Council Meeting
SUBJECT: General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan 2022 Progress Report and Finding the Report is Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act
Members of the Goleta City Council:
Mayor Paula Perotte Mayor
Pro Tempore Kyle Richards
Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, Councilmember Luz Reyes‐Martín, District 1 Councilmember James Kyriaco, District 2
Robert Nisbet, City Manager Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney Deborah S. Lopez, City Clerk Please be advised of correspondence below sent to County of Santa Barbara as of February 28, 2023. We request that the Goleta City Council give consideration to ALL Goleta residents and property owners’ concerns and rights before any final action is taken regarding AG rezoning (for the reasons stated below).
February 28, 2023
RE: County of Santa Barbara Draft Housing Element Update Goleta City Council Response to County’s Housing Element We respectfully request an extension of time for public comment so that residents in our community may review and better understand the proposed rezoning issues for the Goleta area. My husband has lived in Goleta since childhood, and we have resided here for the past 40 years – as many of our neighbors have as well.
As business owners in our community for more than 40 years, we have seen the severe decline of affordable housing for our labor force – and how that has affected the economic health of the entire Santa Barbara County on many levels. We need additional housing for employees and their families in order to provide the goods and services required for all residents here. The disparity between those who can afford to live here – and those who cannot is worse than ever before. Housing for those who need to live and work in this area is critical.
The AG zoning in our area for larger parcels has been in place for many years – but consideration of what is needed at the present time in terms of reasonable and careful rezoning is absolutely necessary. Many of the long‐term AG land owners in Goleta have been challenged with minimal profit margins from agricultural productions for many years. Major increases with costs of operation, and drastic market changes related to international competition are only a few of the serious concerns for this industry. A nursery owner of many decades shared with us that the cost for gas heating to facilitate his greenhouses has been budgeted at $18,000 per month. This past month the gas bill was $50,000. 1 Recognition of the present and future challenges AG land owners face should be considered equally to all other public comment when rezoning is decided. Rezoning should result in a “win‐win” whereby there is a benefit for the good of the whole. Increased housing availability in Goleta provided by a careful change of open land use would serve the needs of many County residents, and ensure the economic health of our community.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to further discussions that allow for all concerns to be addressed.
Sincerely,
Nina Meyer
Fred Meyer
2