Thoms Schultz NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The first look at a plan to steer Goleta through two decades of decision-making is ready.
So are critics poised to take a swipe at it.
City Hall policy-makers and backers of the Goleta Draft General Plan say the long-range blueprint for growth and development offers a solid blend of rules on noise, safety, land use and traffic as required by state law. Officials are gearing up for five public forums this week focused on the document, although they admit it's a work in progress.
"It's going to be interesting to see how people respond," Goleta City Councilwoman Cynthia Brock said. "I know that there's more work to be done. There may be some inconsistencies. There may be some areas where we need to go into greater detail. This process will help us identify some of those."
Critics are wary, and they want to rally residents against the plan. Years-long debate about how much housing to create, and where to put it, promises to surface strongly -- as does concern the city has not sought enough public input to date, a claim that officials deny.
"There's a lot wrong there," said Jennifer McGovern, coordinator of the Goleta Housing Leadership Council, which advocates for new construction. "It is really a disservice to the community," she added, wondering if the problems she sees were intentional.
The plan places a high priority on environmental conservation and concentrates new housing along the Hollister Avenue corridor. It's nothing new in Goleta's slow-growth politics that the plan envisions an economy that does not depend on expansion.
Posted by gandlwoods at January 24, 2005 08:55 AM