As a consequence of its inconvenient remoteness and its mixture of natural landscapes and agricultural uses, the Gaviota Coast was spared the wholesale change visited on so much of coastal Southern California. That was a very fortunate thing. As it turns out, the Gaviota Coast lies within a globally recognized zone of biological transition where important ecological interactions between terrestrial and coastal-marine environments occur.
The fact that so many southern species reach their northern limits and northern species reach their southern limits on the Gaviota Coast make it nationally significant. Furthermore, its many intact habitat types harbor the highest density of imperiled species in the nation, making it a safe haven for those species and a kind of biodiversity bank for the region.
And so it is with this backdrop that we celebrate two recent milestones in local stewardship of this important place.
Continue to the full article:
http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_e1c739f6-d0c5-11de-bd23-001cc4c002e0.html
The goal of this event is to raise funds crucially needed to continue their outreach, education, and legal battles to Stop all development south of Highway 101 and preserve the Gaviota Coastline for future generations to enjoy. The theme of the event is a simple celebration of the natural and pristine beauty of the Gaviota Coast and the general public’s overwhelming desire to keep it that way.
The Chapter is presently seeking unique silent auction items that capture the evening’s theme through original paintings, photographs, or mixed media pieces. The Chapter also welcomes donations for the evening’s raffle; gift certificates to local restaurants, movie tickets, surf merchandise, etc.
We hope you will consider donating to this event, and we would be grateful for any suggestions you may have of other businesses or individuals who would be interested in supporting this cause to help make this event a huge success! Email nhastings@surfrider.org to donate or for more information on this event.
Gaviota coast workshop participants packed the Goleta Union School District board room Thursday to provide input on the area’s future. (Lara Cooper / Noozhawk photo)
County planner Allen Bell talks open space and agriculture with Santa Barbara resident Joanne McGarry. (Lara Cooper / Noozhawk photo)
VOTE TODAY AND EVERY DAY! The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project and Surfrider Foundation have an easy way you can help do your part. To raise awareness about major Surfrider Foundation environmental campaigns in celebration of Surfrider’s 25th anniversary, Barefoot wine is donating $25,000 to directly help support local Surfrider Foundation Chapters and their efforts to protect America’s shores. Beginning May 1, 2009 through August 15, 2009, Barefoot and Surfrider are encouraging everyone to learn more and cast their vote for one of four Surfrider Foundation campaigns in need of more awareness and financial support.
A lawsuit filed by the Gaviota Coast Conservancy and Surfrider Foundation resulted today in a decision invalidating a 2008 action by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) annexing prime Gaviota Coast parcels into the Goleta Water District. Without water service, development of the lots 
The Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County, California, lies between Coal Oil Point in Goleta and Point Sal near Lompoc, and includes the coastal watersheds from the top of the ridge to the ocean. The coastal Mediterranean ecosystems of the world are among the world's most threatened environments. The Gaviota Coast is the largest intact remnant of such an environment in the United States. The Southern California Coastal Province (Pt. Conception to Mexico) contains the highest density of imperiled species of anywhere in the United States.
The Gaviota Coast faces an increasing threat from development. There are numerous development projects being planned, the most significant of which would permit 72 luxury homes – some as large as 13,000 square feet – on the property known as Naples, an antiquated subdivision located just two miles west of the urban limit line in Goleta. The development would occur on and amidst land currently zoned for agriculture with a minimum lot size of 100 acres, parcels on which the average home size is 4,000 – 5,000 square feet.
By Lara Cooper, Noozhawk Staff Writer
Foes of Haskell's Beach project express concerns over extent of required General Plan policy changes
Voicing concern over what one speaker called a “total reversal to the usual, acceptable planning process,” members of the public met with Goleta officials to air their grievances about policies involving Bacara Resort & Spa’s latest project. The hotel would like to see 55 condominiums along Haskell’s Beach, and a scoping hearing was held Thursday evening in council chambers to gather public input on the policy changes the project would require. The purpose of the hearing was not to discuss the project, but the guidelines governing it. Because the proposal would require 12 General Plan amendments, the city is collecting public comment and will be shaping a scope of services for an environmental impact report work to be undertaken.
That scope of services report will be brought before the City Council, which will decide whether to initiate a contract to prepare the EIR, said Steve Chase, planning and environmental services director. Goleta is also in draft stages with a concurrent EIR for the city’s track-three General Plan amendments, and a final version will be ready in a couple of months.
Connie Hannah, representing the League of Women Voters, took issue with the Bacara project requesting amendments while final environmental review for the track-three amendments remained to be seen.
“The project should not even be considered until the track-three amendments have been properly analyzed,” said Hannah, who added that the changes would not be project specific and would apply citywide.
Hannah also said the buildings would interfere with the public’s use of Haskell’s Beach.
Michael Lunsford of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy took issue with a large resort requesting changes to city policy.
“The question is, ‘Would this kind of treatment be given to me or any other homeowner in the city of Goleta?’” he asked. “It’s been my experience that you don’t get past the planning desk until you’re consistent. And yet, in this case, we have a massive change.
“I’m afraid that what you’re doing is setting yourself up for a constitutional issue of equal treatment,” he said. “The rooms that are being anticipated are larger than my remodeled house. I suspect that is consistent with most people who live in Goleta.”
Brian Trautwein, speaking for the Environmental Defense Center, discussed the location’s environmentally sensitive habitat areas, or ESHAs. The General Plan designates that the area where the condos would be built is such a habitat, but efforts are under way to change that designation, he said.
“That’s significant, because under the Coastal Act, you can’t build on an environmentally sensitive habitat area,” he said, adding that even if the city were to change the ESHA in the General Plan, the Coastal Act has jurisdiction over this project.
Meanwhile, one speaker drew attention to the presence of prehistoric Chumash archaeological sites. Frank Arredondo described himself as one of about eight people who can trace their genealogy to prehistoric Chumash, and he challenged the city to conduct consultations with the tribe.
“This project is very important to me,” he said.
Arredondo said he’s placed calls to Bacara, saying he was an interested Native American party, but that he has yet to receive a response.
Members of the public who missed the scope hearing may submit written comments to City Hall until 5:30 p.m. April 16.
Once staff has analyzed the environmental report, Chase said the city would bring that document through the Planning Commission process to the council.
“I don’t want to prejudge that outcome,” he said. Public hearings before the council and planning commission will help determine the adequacy of that document, and also whether the General Plan will require modification.
“We get the whole issue of cart before the horse,” he said. “And we struggle with that ourselves. But this is a public planning process and we have an obligation, under due process, to guide it carefully and judiciously.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Lara Cooper can be reached at lcooper@noozhawk.com.
http://www.noozhawk.com/noozhawk/article/041009_bacara_scoping_hearing_draws_criticism_from_public/
