EIR Process for Plan Santa Barbara

Notice of Preparation/Notice of Scoping

The City of Santa Barbara  has issued a Notice of Preparation/Notice of Scoping (NOP/NOS) for the Plan Santa Barbara EIR. This announces the official start of the EIR public process and outlines the EIR scope of analysis to be undertaken. Release of the NOP/NOS starts a 30-day period to receive comment from other agencies and the public on the EIR scope of analysis. The NOP/NOS comment period is January 15 through February 13, 2009. A Public Scoping Meeting to receive verbal comment on the EIR scope of analysis will also be held by the Planning Commission on Thursday January 29, 2009, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., at City Hall Council Chambers (De La Guerra Plaza, 735 Anacapa Street).

Plan Santa Barbara EIR Notice of Preparation/ Notice of Scoping

Please see the Notice and attachments (Project Description Summary, Draft Land Use Element Map, and Outline of EIR and Alternatives.

Agency and public comments on the EIR scope of analysis are requested to be received by the City of Santa Barbara Planning Division no later than Friday February 13, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. Please forward comments to the attention of Barbara Shelton, Project Planner/Environmental Analyst.

Mailing Address: 
City of Santa Barbara Planning Division, Attn: Barbara Shelton,
P.O. Box 1990, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1990

Email Address: bshelton@santabarbaraca.gov
Web Site:  www.YouPlanSB.org
Office:   Planning Division, 630 Garden Street
Telephone:  (805) 564-5470

Notice of Program EIR Preparation
EIR Noticing Attachment 1
EIR Noticing Attachment 2 - Draft GP LU Map
EIR Noticing Attachment 3
PC Staff Report for 1-29-09

A Program EIR that evaluates environmental effects of the Draft Plan Santa Barbara General Plan policies will be prepared over the next year per the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and prior to any Council action to adopt the Plan Santa Barbara policies. An EIR is an informational document intended to evaluate environmental consequences of public agency decisions that could affect the environment, and to identify any measures that could be taken to avoid or reduce identified impacts to insignificant levels. The EIR will also provide a comparative impact evaluation for alternative policies and growth scenarios.

Next Steps

Following the EIR scoping period in January-February 2009, a Draft EIR will be prepared and then released for a 45-day public comment period (late 2009), which will also include a public comment hearing at the Planning Commission. A Final EIR is then prepared, including written responses to public comments received. The Final EIR is forwarded to the Planning Commission for certification, and then considered by City Council as part of their evaluation and adoption of the final Plan Santa Barbara general plan policies.
Fax:   (805) 897-1904