Activist group wins $10,000 grant
The
local grassroots organization, Buellton is Our Town has been presented with a
grant of $10,000 to support the Buellton Urban Growth Boundary Initiative.
Awarded
at the spring grant awards party of the Fund for Santa Barbara, the grant
“demonstrates that we have great confidence in Buellton is Our Town as an
effective organization to deliver on what they said they would do – pass the
initiative – and in the process increase a sense of civic engagement by
Buellton and greater Buellton residents,” said Geoff Green executive director
of the Fund.
The
grant will support efforts to pass the urban growth boundary (UGB)
initiative. BIOT spokesperson Judi
Stauffer accepted the grant on behalf of the group. “We believe the Buellton UGB has the
potential to transform Buellton. Before
developers can build new projects outside the current city limits, they will
have to make compelling cases to the community that their projects will be good
for Buellton. The UGB will also protect
valuable agricultural lands that surround Buellton from sprawl while focusing
development inward to create a more vibrant town center.”
The initiative is being studied by the City of Buellton and
a report will be presented to the city council at its July 10 meeting. At that time the council has two choices; either to vote to
adopt the initiative without changes, or to place the initiative on the
November ballot and allow the voters the choice to enact the UGB initiative or
to keep the process of annexation under the powers of the city council.