Citizen accomplishments in review

Active citizens can affect their communities for the better — 2008 was a perfect example of that fact.

It often seems harder than it should be, and sometimes costs more than seems reasonable, but for those to whom the community matters, it is always rewarding.

Great thanks are due to those individuals who contributed so much to this year’s efforts to preserve and protect what we all cherish about the Santa Ynez Valley. Groups earning special praise include Buellton is Our Town (BIOT), POLO/POSY, Santa Ynez Valley Alliance and WE Watch.

 

Some of this year’s most significant accomplishments by community groups and active individuals include:

• Defeat of the attempt to jam the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan through without adequate time to review and comment on the 1,500-page environmental documents; the county was forced to allow the newly elected 3rd District supervisor to complete the process.

 

• Exposed to the light of day was an attempt by the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation Improvement District Number 1 to pass state legislation (A.B. 2686) that would have broadened its powers and expanded the powers of the tribe with regard to water; after persistent disregard of the citizens’ concerns by the water district management, lawyers and the board, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger evaluated the citizens’ arguments and correctly vetoed the bill.

 

• Surprised by the city council’s attempt to begin the process of expanding the physical boundaries of Buellton by as much as five times, citizens passed by a landslide a ballot initiative that requires voter approval of city expansion. In a city where some prior council’s elections drew no candidates, six citizens were inspired to run for two available seats.

 

• A significant round was won in the federal legal battle for the right of local community members and groups to participate in the “fee to trust” (annexation) process. This legal victory enhances the rights of citizens across the country.

 

• On Nov. 4 a new 3rd District supervisor was elected on a platform to protect community character and pledging open and responsive government; in the earlier primary, the pro-development candidate promising to continue the retiring supervisor’s agenda failed to make the runoff.

 

• The Santa Ynez Airport Authority and the county finally were forced to tacitly acknowledge the obvious — the authority’s proposal to increase the intensity of airport use by adding 125,000 square feet of development, including 32 hangars and six helipads, plus more growth in future phases requires an Environmental Impact Report; despite requests, written acknowledgment has not been issued.

 

• Two attempts to break the excellent county general plan policies that prohibit urban-style uses on agriculturally-zoned lands (the Firestone Event Center and the La Purisima Resort) have been delayed, and the debate has been properly focused on the inappropriateness of such use and the magnitude of the precedents county-wide.

 

• Residents of Los Olivos have illuminated the issue of excessive wine tasting in their town and its adverse impact on their quality of life. Meanwhile, residents of Happy Canyon defeated an attempt to expand wine tasting by members of the public and so-called special events (parties-for-profit) into that rural area.     

 

That is quite a year, and that is only a partial list. There is more to do next year. The Firestone and La Purisima issues must be resolved. Problems relating to the proliferation of wine tasting and special events must be sorted out.  

A 70-room resort is proposed for Los Olivos on the site of Mattei’s Tavern, next to the proposed large-scale Stage Stop Plaza; besides the obvious size/bulk/scale and traffic issues, critical wastewater problems must be responsibly addressed. Obviously, the water district needs attention.

We encourage all valley residents who wish to preserve the special character of this community to join the currently active groups and individuals who are working so hard to protect it.

You can make a difference.

 

We all wish all of our valley neighbors a happy and prosperous New Year.