“With all the information that has come forward including the studies and the RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) numbers coming down as well as listening to the speakers, I just think that this is the wrong time,” said Buellton Mayor Diane Whitehair.

 

A Sphere of Influence (SOI) is a plan that outlines physical boundaries and the service areas of a city. The Sphere of Influence Baseline Conditions Report that the council received on June 28 outlined the Planning Commission’s recommendation for the City Council to approve the study of more than 2,000 acres outside the city’s boundaries. The study would have explored issues such as land use among a list of other issues. The study would have also been task one of a three-part series that could have potentially included revising the city’s boundaries and studying some of the impacts a revision to the SOI could have had on the environment and surrounding communities.

 

Because of the turnout at the June 28 City Council Meeting, the council opted to hold the meeting at Oak Valley Elementary School in Buellton, which had a maximum occupancy of about 400. Protestors could be seen holding signs and wearing red buttons and stickers resembling stop signs that read “Stop Annexation.”

 

Before opening the agenda item up for public discussion, Council Member Russ Hicks made it clear that he did not want to move forward with the study and made a motion to suspend the Baseline Conditions report and terminate the sphere study.

 

“We were a sounding board last time and received input.  With that said, I don’t see any imperative reason for us to be looking at expanding our boundary while every other jurisdiction in the county is looking at where to sit in the next go around of fair share housing in the county,” Hicks said.

 

Council Member Victoria Pointer seconded Hicks’ sentiment and expressed her gratitude towards the community for showing up and taking an active role in discussions.

 

“I’d like to thank everyone for showing up. You show great tenacity in what concerns you in your everyday living and quality of life,” she said. “I am in concurrence and I think that there are other things that have come to light since the last hearing that now I am willing to suspend the study at this time.”

 

Though the majority of the 200 people attending the meeting were in opposition to furthering the Sphere of Influence Study, the few who voiced support of the continuance of the study urged the council to push forward.

 

“I’m here to basically speak in favor of the study. I’ve been a builder for 30 years and am completely invested in planning,” said Mark Edwards, a supporter of the study who works for one of the property owners in what was a proposed study area outside the city.

 

“I think that the city has done a fine job and there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done. There are a lot of needs in the city and the city has to provide for them in some way. The only way to do that is for the city to begin studying its options.”

 

Council Members Ed Andrisek and Dale Molesworth were the two members to vote in support of moving forward with the study.

 

“A lot of the concerns that people have expressed to us has made us think, but this study is designed to answer those questions. Now if we do not do this sort of thing, then this council or the next council or the next one after that is operating blindly and that is foolish in this day in age,” Molesworth said. “I think that everyone needs to have a good grasp of what this study meant, which was not meant to open the door to development.

 

That’s not the idea behind it. That’s not going to be the result at least as long as I’m sitting here.”

 

Regardless of the supporter’s strong position urging the council to go forward with the Sphere of Influence Study, people who opposed the study not only outnumbered the supporters, but expressed their concerns proudly. Of the 15 public speakers to voice opinions about 12 of them were opposed to the study.

 

An hour into public comment, speaker John Burnabee asked attendees who opposed the study to stand, and more than half the people in the room rose to their feet to give the council a visual representation of the number of opposing residents and community members.

 

Cindy Taylor was one of the people to stand.

 

“I have four generations [in Buellton] who get together for all of the holidays. I did move out of Los Angeles because I didn’t want to raise my children in a crime-ridden San Fernando Valley.  I came up here and I didn’t have to worry about that,” Taylor said.  

 

“Now I have grandkids and I really appreciate this Valley and there isn’t anybody inside this Valley or outside this Valley that has enough money to buy me out. I have memories that have no price on them.”

 

At the end the Sphere of Influence Study public hearing, the City Council was met with a standing ovation and applause from people who opposed the study and were content with the council’s decision.

 

The City Council meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers in Buellton, 140 W. Highway 246, behind the Post Office. For more information about future meetings contact City Hall at 805-686-0137 or visit www.cityofbuellton.com.