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This past week, the local news we reported drew an audience of 151,327 readers, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top Five most-read stories over that period, as compiled by our Google Analytics.
This is not a news story, by the way. It’s my opinion column, which I write in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher.
1. Solvang Council Denies Ed St. George Appeal in ‘Whimsical’ Cottage Design Dispute
The Solvang City Council has denied Santa Barbara developer Ed St. George’s appeal over design changes to his cottages hotel project at the most high-profile corner in the city of 5,900 residents.
As our Nick Forselles reported, the 4-1 vote on Oct. 13 upheld planning officials’ determination that the buildings — at 1704 Mission Drive at the intersection of Alisal Road — don’t meet the city’s Danish-themed design standards.
Our Janene Scully reported previously that the dispute over the nine-unit hotel escalated dramatically after the city issued a stop-work order.
St. George responded by posting a banner reading “Stop Work” that named Design Review Committee members — with multiple misspellings — and called the project “UNSUITABLE for the city of Solvang.” The sign called on voters to “Please vote common sense in 2026.”
The banner was later removed.
On Oct. 13, St. George asked the council to reverse requirements to remove curved half-timber details and red-and-white roof tiles from the “whimsical” project, which includes cottages with faux “thatched” roofs and a 400-square-foot meeting room designed to resemble a Danish chapel.
He argued that the elements were authentic to Northern European architecture.
“I thought it was very important that this corner would be something that Solvang could be proud of,” St. George said during his presentation.
Public comment was divided. Some praised the project’s creativity, while others backed city intervention.
“Ed St. George’s project is exploitative, disrespectful and devoid of context,” Janice Zigler, daughter of late city manager Leo Mathiasen, said in a scathing rebuke.
“Solvang is not based on a hovel from the 1600s somewhere in Europe.”
In voting to deny the appeal, Council members Mark Infanti, Claudia Orona, Elizabeth Orona and Louise Smith cited concerns about precedent and architectural consistency.
Mayor David Brown cast the lone dissenting vote, saying the project added visual interest. He questioned whether strict authenticity should always be the goal.
“Even if it may not be authentic, it’s fun,” Brown said.
2. ‘Major Storm’ Could Cause Heavy Rain, Flooding Across Santa Barbara County
The main front of a major storm passed through Santa Barbara County on Oct. 14 after dropping up to 1½ inches of rain in coastal areas and nearly 3 inches in the foothills above Carpinteria.
Isolated thunder showers continued threatening the area into the evening.
As our Giana Magnoli had reported over the weekend, the National Weather Service had forecast heavy rainfall and possible flooding, hail, winds up to 65 mph, and even weak tornadoes.
Evacuation warnings were issued for the burn areas of the Gifford and Lake fires.
Fortunately, as our Daniel Green reported, little of that came to pass.
The evacuation warnings were canceled and the county Fire Department reported no major incidents, although the California Highway Patrol kept busy responding to spinouts and collisions on rain-slickened roadways.
The weather service is now predicting a bit of a heat wave through the weekend with clear skies and daytime temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s.
3. Captain’s Log: Leopard, the Most Beautiful Shark in the Sea
Leopard sharks have been appearing frequently off Santa Barbara County over recent months, with sightings and catches reported at Goleta Beach, Santa Claus Lane and the Channel Islands.
As our Capt. David Bacon wrote in his Oct. 9 column, the sleek predators — named for their eye-catching camouflage patterns — typically measure 30-48 inches and must exceed 36 inches to be legally caught.
They’re prized by anglers for their meat and often caught while drift-fishing for halibut over sandy bottoms.
Despite their beauty, leopard sharks deserve respect. Their band-saw teeth can cause serious injury when they instinctively twist and thrash after biting.
The sharks primarily feed on small fish, squid and soft-bodied prey.
According to local lore, a longtime Santa Rosa Island worker waded among spawning leopards in a hidden lagoon each spring, standing entranced as they swam around him.
4. Paseo Nuevo Proposal Called ‘Desperate’ and ‘Ill-Defined’ Over Land Giveaway
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission delivered a unanimous rebuke of city staff’s proposal to transform Paseo Nuevo, objecting to plans to give away $32 million to $39 million in public land and build segregated affordable housing.
“This sounds like we are desperate,” commissioner Brian Barnwell said. “I don’t ever remember such an ill-defined proposal coming in front of me.”
As our Josh Molina reported, the plan would demolish the old Macy’s building and build 233 market-rate apartments along West Ortega Street between State and Chapala streets, eliminating 186 parking spaces for 80 affordable units.
Two blocks away up Chapala Street, a separate, six-story building would contain the project’s affordable housing, with 85 units replacing part of city Parking Lot 2 next to the Canary Hotel.
That didn’t sit well with commissioners.
Chairwoman Lucille Boss said the affordable housing proposal lacked “dignity and care.”
“I am concerned about the segregation and lack of dignity for affordable housing,” she said.
But it was the land transfer that really got the commission riled up.
The City of Santa Barbara owns the land beneath the mall, but City Administrator Kelly McAdoo says giving it away is necessary to incentivize developers AB Commercial — an entity of AllianceBernstein, the Nashville-based global investment company that owns the mall’s long-term leases — and The Georgetown Company of New York City.
“I am flatly opposed under any circumstances to give them the land,” said Barnwell, a real estate appraiser and former city councilman.
Commissioner Lesley Wiscomb suggested the city should instead give the developers a 99-year lease through a charter amendment that would go before voters. The current lease still has 40 years remaining.
The proposal heads to the City Council in December for final consideration of the land transfer.
5. Proposed Rent ‘Stabilization’ Ordinance for Santa Barbara Fails Over Lack of Transparency
In the face of fierce criticism over their lack of transparency, Santa Barbara City Councilwomen Wendy Santamaria and Kristen Sneddon were forced to retreat from their proposed rent control — excuse me, “stabilization” — ordinance at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting.
As our Josh Molina reported, the duo worked with pro-bono attorneys and tenant advocates to draft a 15-page ordinance that would cap annual rent increases at 60% of the Consumer Price Index, bypassing the customary city process in which staff — including the city attorney — sketch out new ordinances or amendments.
Ironically, Councilwoman Meagan Harmon — the council’s strongest rent control advocate — torpedoed the proposal, calling it “written under the cover of darkness” without public input.
“We desperately need real, effective rent stabilization in this city, and we need the opportunity to build it together in public,” she said.
Harmon warned that a rushed ordinance could prompt landlords to immediately raise rents to maximum levels.
At one point, Sneddon called it a “sample ordinance,” backtracking from her own memo’s original language requesting legal review for council adoption.
When called out, Santamaria said she wasn’t “married to the ordinance,” although she avoided acknowledging the transparency issue.
Although two-member ordinance memos are not unusual, attaching a full ordinance drafted by private attorneys and asking the council to agendize it for a vote is unprecedented.
The council voted 4-3 to direct staff to study rent control and return with recommendations by the end of the year.
For a head start, I recommend UCSB Economic Forecast Project executive director Peter Rupert’s commentaries, including a 2024 column, “Rent Control Is a Renter’s Nightmare.”
Spoiler alert: Rent control has never worked long term — anywhere. Unless your measure of success is reduced availability and quality, because there are lots of examples of that.
Harmon, Santamaria, Sneddon and Councilman Oscar Gutierrez voted for the staff work, with Mayor Randy Rowse and Councilmen Eric Friedman and Mike Jordan in dissent.
About 100 people attended the meeting, with property owners and landlords — both large and small — vastly outnumbering tenants and activists.
“I’d like to ask all of you to stop demonizing landlords,” property owner Rick Lang told the council. “We’re also your community members. We struggle like everyone else to be able to survive in this town, and our tenants are not our enemies. They are not our victims …
“We need to support them because they help to support us.”
Santa Barbara Tenants Union co-founder Stanley Tzankov said he’s at a loss at what to say.
He described a “dear friend with a 2-year-old, whose rent has gone up 9% year after year over the last three years;” tenants who are “afraid to bring up the mold issue;” a commuter stuck in traffic; and a neighbor seeking a ride to work amid “fear of abduction from ICE.”
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Good Reads
These six stories are also worth your while:
» Soil Contamination Delays Construction of Santa Barbara Police Headquarters — South County editor Josh Molina is digging around several surprise holes the City of Santa Barbara is uncovering.
» Detectives Seek Public’s Help Locating 9-Year-Old Vandenberg Village Girl — Editor in chief Tom Bolton has the basic details about missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. But the little we know about the peculiar case raises a lot more questions than there are answers.
» Military Approves Second Site at Vandenberg Space Force Base to Increase SpaceX Launches — North County editor Janene Scully starts the countdown on a second launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
» BizHawk: Old Town Goleta’s Goodland BBQ Nears Its Last Cookout — Josh serves up some disappointing news about my favorite barbecue joint on the South Coast.
» California Adopts Santa Barbara Program Protecting Whales, Reducing Ship Emissions — Staff writer Pricila Flores does a deep dive on a whale of a Santa Barbara initiative that is now state law.
» San Marcos, Dos Pueblos Flag Football Earn Co-Channel League Titles After Dominant Seasons — Sports editor Diego Sandoval reports on two powerhouse flag football programs at Dos Pueblos and San Marcos high schools.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Fire Damages Chase Restaurant in Downtown Santa Barbara.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Dec. 11 — The Channel City Club has asked me to emcee its Christmas brunch at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. I’m honored to be recruited, all the more so because I’m following the giant footsteps of my close friend, the late Erin Graffy.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Mendocino and Sonoma counties are getting their move on: Creepy Fault Creep on the Maacama in Northern California, Halloween Edition.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed is still “ketching” up on my Ketchum adventures, but the bigger news is that my owl box ADU finally has a tenant, a strikingly majestic little Western screech-owl.
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Watch It
738 days. Also, it’s really dusty in here.
