18 September 2023
Goleta City Council
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
[email protected]
Subject: Storke Medical Office and Day Care Building
Case No. 21-0002-SPA; 21-0005-DP; & 22-0002-ORD
Dear Madam Mayor and Honorable Members of the City Council,
I am writing you to express my enthusiastic support of the proposed Storke Medical Center. When Ms. Schizas and Mr. Linehan approached me to discuss this project and explain the ownership’s vision for the property, I was extremely excited and delighted for our company to provide assistance and input in their application process.
As a land use planner for nearly 30 years in both the public and private sectors, I believe the current status of the property is untenable for appropriate development.
Since the property is within a 1997 specific plan that was approved by Santa Barbara County before the City incorporated and adopted its General Plan, the only uses consistent with both plans are indoor recreation, outdoor recreation and childcare facilities. Three uses. That is compared to the nearly 50 uses potentially permittable for other properties zoned C-C elsewhere in the City. As a result, this property has remained vacant and unimproved for decades instead of adding to the beauty and economic vitality of the City.
This project will help address a critical shortage of medical services in western Goleta and will eliminate a confusing layer of regulation that handcuffs the ability to develop the site in a manner that is consistent with the intent of the City’s General Plan. While recreational uses and childcare are important, the property is already adjacent to substantial indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, and is thus better suited to other uses that would better benefit the community. Further, the applicant team has included childcare within the project description.
As a land use planner for nearly 30 years in both the public and private sectors, it’s clear to me that the project just makes sense. Among the benefits, it:
• Provides critically needed medical services to the citizens of Goleta. • Allows the City General Plan to govern development, rather than a plan approved by the County
Goleta City Council – Storke Medical Center
18 September 2023
• Will likely reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) as citizens will not need to travel as far to address their medical needs and trips can be combined with those to nearby commercial properties.
• Will promote high quality employment opportunities within the community. • Provides nearly $300,000 in funding for affordable housing • Provides a local childcare option near recreation facilities. • Is ideally located on a major thoroughfare with plenty of parking and no adjacent residences.
• Is attractively designed and will significantly improve the aesthetics on a major City thoroughfare.
Mark, Kim and the rest of the Wynmark team have demonstrated that they understand the needs of the Goleta Valley. They have produced high quality developments like Camino Real Marketplace, Girsh Park, Maravilla and the Courtyard hotel that display their exceptional vision and which have greatly benefited the community. Please vote to approve this project and allow it be developed in a manner that was intended in the General Plan and which support your residents by providing local medical services. I can be reached at (805) 966-2758 x111 or [email protected] if you should wish to contact me.
Sincerely,
SUZANNE ELLEDGE
PLANNING & PERMITTING SERVICES, INC.
Steve Welton, AICP
Principal Planner