Public Open House:  March 18, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., to review maps for recommended changes and to provide information on the General Plan Update and DEIR, distribute draft documents to the public, and answer questions.  The Open House was held at the Public Library Main Branch, Faulkner Gallery (first floor) at 40 E. Anapamu Street.

Project Description and Location:  The Plan Santa Barbara General Plan Update includes new and existing goals and policies that will shape development over the next 20 years.  Policy direction is proposed to manage both residential and non-residential growth, and new standards for residential development in the commercial and multiple family areas of the City.  The Draft Land Use Map includes revised land use designations and in some areas changes to density allowances.  The Update also proposes new goals and policies to be incorporated into other General Plan elements to be updated at a future time.

Environmental Impact Report Description:  A Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) has been prepared to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Plan Santa Barbara General Plan policy amendments and future growth in the City to the year 2030 and beyond.  The Program DEIR evaluates citywide impacts for the following environmental topics: air quality, biological resources, geological conditions, hazards (accident risk, hazardous materials, wildland fire), heritage resources (historical and archaeological resources), hydrology and water quality, noise, open space and visual resources, public services (police, fire protection, parks, schools), public utilities (water supply, wastewater management, solid waste disposal), transportation (traffic and circulation), energy, global climate change, population growth and jobs/housing balance, and socioeconomic issues.  The DEIR also analyzes comparative environmental effects of alternative policy and growth scenarios (Existing Policies, Lower Growth, and Additional Housing alternatives), and considers regional environmental effects and longer-range effects to 2050. The DEIR identifies mitigation measures to reduce significant effects.

Availability of Draft Documents:  All documents were made available as of March 18, 2010, in the following ways: Open House, view or download from the City website at www.YouPlanSB.org, or at the Planning Division office, 630 Garden Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and alternate Fridays.  The documents are also available for review at the Main Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu Street and the Eastside Branch Library, 1102 Montecito Street.  Source documents referenced in the draft environmental document may also be made available for review at the Planning Division location listed above.

Public Review and Comment Period:  March 18 – May 17, 2010.  Public comments on the draft General Plan documents and DEIR are accepted no later than May 17, 2010, 4:30 p.m.  Please direct comments to the attention of John Ledbetter, Principal Planner.  Written comments can be mailed to the Planning Division at P. O. Box 1990, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, or dropped off at 630 Garden Street.  Comments can also be submitted electronically through our website at info@YouPlanSB.org, or via email to jledbetter@santabarbaraca.gov or via fax to 805-897-1904.

§           Wednesday April 28, 2010     9:00 a.m. Staff Presentation and Public Comment

§            Thursday, April 29, 2010*      1:00 p.m. (*If necessary for additional public comment)

§            Thursday, May 6, 2010           1:00 p.m. Planning Commission discussion and comments

Subsequent Planning Activities:  Following the end of the Draft General Plan and DEIR public review and comment period, proposed Final Plan Santa Barbara General Plan documents and a proposed Final EIR (including responses to comments received by May 17, 2010) will be prepared, and subsequent noticed public hearings will be held at the Planning Commission and City Council to consider actions to certify the Final EIR and adopt the Final General Plan documents.