Goleta Planning Commission to Take Up Willow Springs Development Agreement

The Towbes Group proposes expanding with 100-unit complex of condominiums

When it meets Aug. 14, the Goleta Planning Commission will consider a development agreement for the next phase of the Willow Springs housing development in Goleta. (Alex Kacik / Noozhawk photo)

By Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk Staff Writer | @magnoli | Published on 08.02.2012 8:26 p.m.

The Goleta Planning Commission will take on the Willow Springs II development agreement at its meeting scheduled for Aug. 13, including development impact fees, rental restrictions and funding toward future public improvements.

The Towbes Group proposes expanding its Willow Springs project with a 100-unit development of condominiums, which would connect to the current housing at 60 Willow Springs Lane.

The Goleta City Council on July 17 approved the project’s development plan, minor conditional use permit, vesting tentative map, development plan amendment, transportation and traffic mitigation payment agreement, and general plan amendments.

The City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on an ordinance to repeal the Los Carneros Specific Plan, and most likely will discuss the development agreement in early September, according to Pat Saley, interim director of Planning and Environmental Services.

— Noozhawk staff writer Giana Magnoli can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

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» LookingWest on 08.02.12 @ 09:40 PM

The Goleta City Council and planning commission should pay attention to the words of Santa Maria Council member Cecilia Martner: “People get elected and they become part of the ‘family.’ They stop challenging city staff… “, she was quoted in today’s Santa Maria Times on deciding not to run for re-election. That describes to a “t” most of the Goleta council people, exception being Margaret Connell, who unfortunately is retiring from Council.

It won’t be long that Goleta will become unrecognizable. But I am curious: what is the “Los Carneros Specific Plan” that they are likely to repeal on Tuesday? It’s a plan to limit growth, I am guessing. Oh, well, if Goleta chooses to be Santa Barbara’s bedroom and big box place, as well as provide housing for all the low income workers they’ll be requiring, so be it.

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» AN50 on 08.03.12 @ 07:59 AM

So your preference is that Goleta becomes the wealthy retiree’s village, no industry, no stores, just high priced villas and quaint over priced shops and sky high tax rates to pay for the services? Hey we could be the new Montecito/Hope Ranch. Oops, forgot a couple of things, that big ole nasty airport and that huge resource gobbling university. Ya, so much for retiring under the jet landings and listening to the student party music.

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» RobertRich on 08.03.12 @ 12:06 PM

Just to clarify the record, in the case of the most recent vote on Willow Springs II, the issue was whether the developer could delay paying a half million in park fees, in return for making II rentals, extending the rentals on Willow Springs I for 10 more years and extending I’s affordable units for 4 more years.

And just for the record, the vote was 4-1 with Perotte in the dissent.

And note that Willow Springs I, II and III was initially approved NOT by this council but by a previous Goleta Council, probably the one elected by Chamber candidates.

The real pity is that it looks like nobody (including the commentators) is stepping up to have a contested council race in this upcoming election.

Anyway, thank goodness for Perotte being on council.

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» AN50 on 08.03.12 @ 12:43 PM

Paula represents the no growthers, correct? And by chamber elected members you mean those who don’t object to growth? Just want to avoid the obfuscation and what you are really trying to tell us.

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» RobertRich on 08.03.12 @ 02:28 PM

So let’s be clear. The Chamber is beyond pro-growth. They have never seen a project they didn’t like. They are the extremists.

Perotte and others are moderate, consistently voting for projects of merit, thinking carefully about others to try to preserve the character of Goleta and the balance in the General plan.

Your attempt at creating a dichotomy of no growth and pro-growth is simply a debating trick that is as transparent as it is inaccurate.

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» AN50 on 08.06.12 @ 05:36 PM

There is no community as divided and polarized as this one on growth. It is so dichotomous that it actually supersedes the enormously divide political arena. How you can believe otherwise is beyond me. Of course the chamber is pro growth, that is their job, to promote growth.

As for Paula she is a first class person, but how is she qualified to decide what projects have merit or not? And when you speak of preserving character what is that supposed to mean? The physical character? The social character? The political character?

Robby this town has sooooo many flaws on so many levels that I don’t know why so many people are always talking about “preservation”. Besides, aren’t preservatives used to keep dead things from rotting? Why use that term to describe what ever “character” you want to keep. No, we need to make this community better and to correct 60 years of really crappy government control. You can’t get that from building limits, zoning limits or limits at all. The act of limiting is a knee jerk to something that was over done before. It’s a stop gap and a band aid that was adopted as the modus operandi. Limits come from limited thinking and acute hindsight disorder. Its no way to plan for the future or to make sure you don’t repeat past mistakes.

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Goleta Planning Commission to Take Up Willow Springs Development Agreement

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