By Thomas Schultz NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Amid a growing chorus of frustration from Goleta homeowners, the City Council late Monday renewed rules that significantly restrict home expansions.
In a 4-1 vote, the council extended its interim general plan policies, which control a range of land-use decisions. Council members signaled a willingness to re-examine the standards but suggested that would happen later rather than sooner as the city crafts a general plan for growth.
"I hope that we will have a special session on such issues," Councilman Jack Hawxhurst said. "I am almost willing to make certain changes."
Still, "it probably is better to stay with a certain degree of stability at this time," he said. "All of these things really need to get wrung out in the next months. I don't think we can do that tonight."
The interim building height, home size, traffic, affordable housing and environmental protection rules were set to expire March 1 after a year of use. They followed a moratorium on commercial construction enacted after the city incorporated in early 2002.