January 2002

President’s Message: A new year, and let us hope a more peaceful year

First of all let me thank the many neighbors who have supported PANA during the past year whether through their monetary donations or through their contribution of time and effort to address and speak out on issues of community concern.

Congratulations to Jack Hawxhurst, former PANA president, who is now a City of Goleta councilman-elect.

On February 1st, the city of Goleta will be a reality. It is a welcome change to have locally-elected officials who are familiar with our community and neighborhoods address the issues. The city council-elect is holding council meetings Monday nights at 6 PM in the Goleta Union School District Board Room. Try to attend one. In addition to being very informative, these meetings provide a forum for the voicing of citizens’ concerns on a whole host of issues where none existed before.

So, this is the good news, that PANA’s job is made somewhat easier with the incorporation of Goleta, particularly for land use planning and development issues. For those in PANA’s unincorporated area, PANA will continue to monitor and address those issues affecting these neighborhoods. Here are three projects that we are currently tracking to make sure that there is neighborhood input:

ARCO Gas Station and Minimart: ARCO Products Company plans to build a 24-hour gas station and mini-mart at 80 N. Patterson Ave. A county planning and development department hearing to accept public testimony was held on Oct 4th. It was not well attended by the neighbors (probably because the hearing notice had been published in the Newspress on that fateful Sept. 11th day). Because this hearing answered no questions the neighbors had about the project, PANA requested that ARCO hold a community information meeting to address neighborhood concerns. So, on October 29th, about 25 neighbors gathered to hear ARCO’s presentation. As usual, the concerns about traffic were foremost with noise and air quality issues being addressed. Because this project is under 10,000 square foot, all it needs is the county planning and development department director’s approval. However, PANA believes all of the above issues need to be more fully revealed and answered with greater public involvement in a project which will have a great effect on the traffic and the quality of life in this N. Patterson Ave. neighborhood. PANA is awaiting the director’s decision and will take appropriate action to ensure our concerns are heard. If you wish to be a part of this effort, please let me know (692-9393) so that you can be added to my email list.

Christmas Tree Farm: In early December, PANA and the Cathedral Oaks Village Association (COVA) met with the developer to get an update on his plans for this project. While his plans are far from finalized, the developer is expecting that the county’s new affordable housing guidelines will increase the density of the project. Originally planned at 85 units, the developer is hoping that the county will accept 96 units. PANA and COVA will continue to work closely with the developer to ensure that the bordering neighborhoods will be minimally impacted by this development.

Patterson Packing: Trudi Carey received approval on her request for a site determination to allow a storage facility on the C-1 zoned property. Ms. Carey’s aggressive campaign to receive neighborhood support for her proposed storage facility worked, for about 100 neighbors showed up at the hearing before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on October 23rd. Ms. Carey expects that the project will go to the planning commission sometime in the summer of 2002 at which time the neighbors will have another opportunity to provide any input on the project. PANA supported this project as it will generate the least amount of traffic on the beleagured Patterson and Calle Real intersection and will provide for a fresh fruit and vegetable stand run by Lane Farms.

Fairview Shopping Center: The remodel of this 40-year old shopping was approved by the planning commission in Fall 2001, regrettably with none of the recommendations regarding parking or traffic circulation put forth by the neighbors and PANA. 1175 parking spaces are required under current regulations. In the remodel, the number of parking spaces will be reduced from the current 868 to 863. There is no appeal to the planning commission’s decision regarding the project. However, Councilman-elect Hawxhurst has asked that the City of Goleta consider forwarding a request to the Board of Supervisors to approve a condition on the remodel which would require an assessment of the parking situation one-year after the remodel is completed before constructing an 8,000 square foot building.

Other Projects: Here are some other projects in PANA’s area that are currently at the county planning and development department that will fall under the aegis of the City of Goleta: Porter Plaza: a new 5,200 square foot retail/commercial building fronting the Good Earth Restaurant; a proposed 15,000 sq.. foot expansion of Albertsons in the Calle Real Shopping Center, and a second story addition to the Town and Country Real Estate office at 5669 Calle Real.

The building that the restaurant Appethai now occupies will be torn down sometime this summer and replaced with an office building. Walgreens drug store (at the site of the former Lemos’s pet store, at the corner of Calle Real and Encina Rd.) is expected to be completed by this fall. Asbestos remediation is now taking place with demolition of the building to follow soon.

What is It??
If you think graffiti is only an urban problem, think again for it has found its way into our neighborhoods. (At this writing, I have seen it under the bridges along San Jose creek from Cathedral Oaks to Patterson Ave. and have asked the county to paint over the offending marks.) Once you see graffiti it is important to remove it as quickly as possible to discourage more “tagging.” Santa Barbara County has a graffiti removal program run by the S.B. County Probation Department and Juvenile Hall. Juvenile Institutions Officer James Withrow is in charge of the program that removes graffiti on public property and, with permission, on private property This is a weekend work project for misdemeanor youth offenders who are performing community service projects. In addition to removing graffiti they also weed and pick up trash on vacant lots and along roadways and perform other “beautification” projects in conjunction with community groups. Officer Withrow will provide free water-based paint, tan or gray, for private citizens to use in removing graffiti from private property. Requests for removal of graffiti can be made either through the sheriff’s office (Karen Kozak or the watch officer on duty) at 681-4100 or by calling Officer Withrow at 692-4800.

Gone to the Dogs!
My enjoyment of my neighborhood is heightened by the little park near San Jose Creek where I take my new puppy for a walk and watch neighborhood children play. But this enjoyment is often marred by the increasing amount of dog poop left unattended on the median and grassy areas despite the fact that the county has placed “mutt mitt” scoop bags and a garbage can nearby. Oh, maybe it is the dogs not on a leash who need to be told to clean up after themselves!! Please pick up after your dogs!

Barking dogs a nuisance in your neighborhood? Call Walt Hildbrand (aka the barking dog officer) at the county animal shelter. His number is 681-4397.

The Happy Hound Dog Grooming appeal by the neighbors was upheld by the Board of Supervisors. This was an appeal to a planning commission approved home-based dog grooming business that would have allowed up to 10 dogs at any one time in a an approved garage-conversion-to-dog-grooming salon.

Dogs and Cats and Rabbits: As I am volunteer at the county animal shelter, I thought I would give it a plug as a great place to find an adoptable dog, cat, or bunny. You can look for an adoptable animal at the following websites:

For dogs: www.allforanimals.org
For rabbits and guinea pigs: www.sbbuns.org
For cats: www.asapanimals.org

MEET RACHEL!
3 year old spayed female Healer/Shepherd mix. Extremely affectionate and loyal, Rachel is at her happiest by your side. Rachel is available for adoption at the county animal shelter, 5473 Overpass Road.

Backyard Issues
The invasion of the Santa Barbara Newspress newsracks into the Goleta neighborhoods took everyone by surprise. The fury of the neighbors as evidenced by a letter writing and phone call campaign helped to remove most of them. Or was it the threats to cancel subscriptions that really did the trick. Many thanks to all of you who took the time to write, email, and call the Newspress (the publisher, Joe Cole can be reached at jcole@newspress.com.) Your efforts made a difference. Let’s hope that the issue of the Newspress newsracks (or any newsracks for that matter) has come and gone.

Mission Statement
PANA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit neighborhood association comprised of residents of the Goleta neighborhoods north of Calle Real from Turnpike to Fairview to the mountains. We are committed to educating and informing as well as organizing and providing a forum for citizen action on issues of concern to Goleta. We are committed to the preservation of our current quality of life through orderly, well-paced and well-planned development of Goleta.

Board of Directors:
Cecilia Brown, President
Bud Sprague, Treasurer
Richard Whited, Secretary
Don Aubrey
Jude Blau
Ron Finn
Henry Shames

We Thank You
We appreciate your contributions which help us in our efforts to preserve our neighborhoods. Your contributions support the production of this newsletter which is distributed to over 3000 area addresses in PANA’s neighborhoods. All of your contributions go to communicate with neighbors and elected officials.

The City of Goleta Voter Registration Drive
For each new voter registered by February 1, 2002, the City of Goleta receives $1,200 over 7 years. Councilperson-elect Jean Blois, who is heading this campaign for the city, says “we are hoping to get the forms into the elections office by Jan. 25th so as to be sure the names are on the roles by Feb. 1, 2002.” Although the deadline to register to vote is not until February 19, 2002, to make your registration count toward the funding to be received by the city of Goleta, your affidavit of registration has to be received by February 1, 2002.

PANA is supporting the city in their campaign and if you need voter registration materials, a board member of PANA will hand deliver one to you in order to meet the February 1st deadline. Please call 692-9393 and leave your name, address and phone number.

You can also get voter registration materials from other sources as follows:
Via the internet:
http://www.sb-democracy.com/voterinf.htm
From public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicles’ offices, or Goleta City Council meetings on Monday nights.

Below are the regulations in order to become a registered voter.

As a Santa Barbara County resident you may register to vote if you are a U. S. citizen, a resident of California, and will be at least 18 years of age by the next election on March 5, 2002, and are not in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.

It is necessary to re-register to vote if you have moved, changed your name, wish to change your political party affiliation, or if your signature has changed.