As the New Year rises over Goleta Valley, two new significant factors that will play into its future appear on the scene. We have a new county supervisor, Janet Wolf, and a new official document, drafted by residents, that defines the collective vision for the area. The document, “A Comprehensive Vision for the Eastern Goleta Valley,” (aka GVC 20/20) gives comprehensive, measurable guidelines for managing the beautiful South Coast.

A recent history lesson

In past years, local residents have complained of being cast aside when it comes to community planning. Two fundamental priorities surfaced:

1) Does this region have adequate planning guidelines and restrictions to ensure that the community’s future matches the desire of its current residents? Outside influences have pressured Goleta Valley into building denser housing, and there is steady pressure for more — lots more.

The official definition of an intended future for this area, known as the Goleta Community Plan of 1993, was rendered obsolete when the city of Goleta formed in 2002. The Goleta Growth Management Ordinance (GGMO) was later repealed, virtually stripping the unincorporated area of any land-use guidelines that reflect the values of the community.

2) Are the residents’ values in terms of land use and housing being represented at the decision–making table?

With pressure to develop at high densities coming from state-mandated laws, residents found themselves turning to their one local government representative for help. That representative was Susan Rose. Although Rose made a good show of listening, many believed that her actions and decisions fell far short of representing the concerns of the residents, specifically when it came to land-use policies. Others noted that she was trying to satisfy opposing goals, and that her hands were mostly tied.

Making progress
Politically active residents realized that these priorities weren’t being met. They reached out to the community and easily found support for their concerns. Under pressure from residents and with support from other county supervisors, Rose finally promoted the visioning process, an initial step in creating an updated, comprehensive plan that would reflect and protect the values of the residents of unincorporated Goleta Valley.

The process began in January 2006. The GVC 20/20 document was finalized and accepted by the county in October 2006. The committee members did not all see eye-to-eye in the beginning. Yet, the conflicts turned out to be a healthy sign that compromise and understanding were on the way. The group settled into becoming a productive team and the result is an official document that gives our representatives a clear description of what their constituents want.
The final draft of the GVC 20/20 can be found at the county’s website, www.countyofsb.org, or directly at www.sbcsp.org/docs/GVC_final.pdf. It’s well-written, an easy read using everyday language, unlike the usual government document.

I recommend that everyone have a copy in their home. With committee member Susan Grgich’s fine artwork on the cover, it will even look good on your coffee table.

Credit for the work that went into the full document goes to the 12 residents who sat on the committee, bringing their knowledge of community values and expertise. Credit also goes to the passionate residents who gave their input for the content.

Where we stand today

Wolf settles into her county seat armed with the GVC 20/20. She has stated her commitment to ensure “that this visioning document will serve as the blueprint for the updated community plan.”

With a new elected official and a freshly defined vision, our fundamental concerns have had some strong attention. But land-use pressures are still in force and the residents will need to stay tuned. The latest Housing Element is up for approval, and there is concern that its objectives run counter to the vision that residents have worked hard to define.

Stay tuned, be active