Alphabet soup
10 Thursday, February 6, 2014
Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California
IS, ND, EIR, DEIR, CEQA: what do decisions that are in the community’s they mean? How about CDD, ERO, CEG, best interest. ERC? Maybe it will help to see them all So California cities and counties solve used in a sentence: this problem through a process that At the ERC meeting, the ERO (who works strives to develop one set of facts that in the CDD) explained that under CEQA and decision-makers can use to evaluate the CEG, the IS makes project proposals it clear that an ND (because a generaleveryone understanding of the planning would not be sufficient, isprocess not entitled to his the effectiveness of can maximize and the project would own theirfacts!). input and make the most efficient require an EIR, so a For project prouse ofatheir time. DEIR will be prepared. posal, theanother resultsexample of the downHere’s That explains evof anof Initial Study a little bit about the side not knowing erything, right? (IS) determine what I have a friend who planning process. You are probably type heardofoffact-filled plans to build a hotel on the wondering what all document will be property where she had a community this is and if it even prepared. A smallincredibly frustrating— MIKE WONDOLOWSKI garden plot. How matters. Well, this alproject re- months of work each a gardenmight plot takes She stood up from her seat during a quire phabet soup is at the only the miniyear before you really start reaping the remomentary pause inmal theanalysis meetingofand core of our local planning and developa Negative wards!Declaration So, expecting that she would lose spoke out in a strong, emotionallyment process. It really does matter, a lot! (ND) (more on that her in garden next month’s plot before she could harvest charged project voice, in “How do we stop this any fruits or veggies, my friend decided Any proposed development column). thing?!” While her genuine California must go through a process of passion For was larger projects, to thegive document up on itthat for the rest of the year. and her commitment evident,the her ap-is theNot objective study and analysis. This process contains facts Environmental a great decision. The “planned proach was at best inappropriate and(EIR). at hotel” is defined by the California EnvironmenImpact Report What’swas especially really only a conceptual plan. worst to her cause. tal Quality Act (CEQA). Indamaging the City of cool about the environmental There was review no actual development apIn fact, the vast majority of the 100 the Carpinteria, the way CEQA is applied process that generates EIR is that it iscity’s a plication, so the planning process SuBMITTEd PHOTO or so people attending the EIR scoping is described in the City Environmental completely open process where public had not the even started. If an application Students from Peru’s Markham College plant native species alongside hearing in the elementary schoolfrom auditoColeythen Candaele m Guidelines (CEG). is involved the very beginning in the it never was), were filed (which a Cate students as part of a watershed enhancement projectWhy organized rium had essentially the sameofquestion track and the gridi such a strict process? Why can’t scoping the analysis, through reviewfull environmental review process would by the City of Santa Barbara’s Creeks Division. oncity their mind. just The proposed 300-house 1600M our city council (or any council) ing the Draft EIR (DEIR), to commentbe followed by analysis andthe decision bywith a n oceanfront development look at a proposed project and decide to ing onproject the finalwas EIR. The technical the EIR’s city. There is no way the hotel could generally seen as justanalysis flat-out is wrong forobjective approve or deny it based on their judgdone by experts, who before the end of that have broken ground community for many reasons. are But employees the growing ment of whether it’s athe good idea or bad sometimes in the City’s season. A little knowledge about owner of the propertyCommunity had exercised his the planning idea? A city council is elected to make Development Department process would have resulted to propose a development Fivewatermelons of the best athletes t exactly those types ofright decisions, so why (CDD), butthat for was larger in projects gener- squash, more are tomatoes, (sortand of) consistent theoutside Generalconsulting Plan, and ored at the CHS Athletic H the extra hassle (and time expense)?with ally companies hired strawberries! and so the planning and review process at Carpinteria Boys Consider the following quote by the by the city. An example at the other extreme is & Girls In late January seven students from Peru’s Markham College arrived at Cate was getting started. of the class of 1974, DeeA late U.S. Senator Patrick Moynihan: “EvThe whole process is run by the Envisomeone who is completely unengaged School to participate in Peaks to Piers, a 10-day experiential learning program The project was outside city limits, and (ERO), ’88, and Coley Candaele, ’9 eryone is entitled who unaware ofisa proposal, but then that took them from the mountains to the beaches of Central California to buildto his own opinion, but ronmental Review Officer so the county planning department was The cost to attend is $40 per not to his own facts.” the Community Development Director or blows a gasket when construction starts environmental and intercultural awareness. Co-designed by the two Round Square running the show. As part of preparing will be the first to Think about that and let it sink in a someone else in the CDD byhas been in the plan-benefit on a appointed project that member schools, the program allowed students from both institutions to take part an Environmental Impact ReportThe (EIR) For more information little. the director. ERO chairs the Environning process for months or years. Once or to in activities designed to facilitate an understanding of watersheds and the critical for the project, they scheduled this scopor call 570-1866. When someone puts forward a demental Review Committee (ERC), which the bulldozers show up, it is generally role they play in environmental and human health. The Peruvian students were ingithearing to get public input the too late.documents velopment proposal, is generally reviews draftonenvironmental introduced at an assembly on Jan. 23 where they presented on their home country. issues to be addressed theassociated EIR. The publicWhat something that they really want to build. andinthe comments. ever happened with that 300-unit The students skied, learned about watersheds and participated in many hands-on staff started the evening by explaining the housing Maybe it is their dream house on bluffs Whew! That finishes explaining all the Well, that particular project? science and service projects. “It was an intense week,” said Fatih Haloglu, a senior at Carpinteria audiences overall planning process and the purpose overlooking the ocean. Or maybe it is a abbreviations! Now go back and re-read project’s path had an exceptional number Markham College. “I found it especially interesting that Cate students are involved tormented minds of this specific hearing. office paragraph and more than a typicalof three w of twists and turns, in collecting and reporting data that’s used by the community. Itnice gave me building a sense that they plan to build the sentence in the second “Private Wars”after by James M However, our outspoken attendee and sell for a profit. They might describe see if it makes a little more sense. project. But 15 years and one month of responsibility that I know I can apply in some way back home.” weekend and next not taken heart What the is the project in glowing apparently terms: “The had world Nexttomonth: in an ND or EIR, that scoping hearing, escrow closed on aat Plaza by Bill Egan, a vete information provided. Had she are listened will be a better place. Birds will sing and and how the “facts” presented in directeddeal public-purchase/land-swap funded designer in theaters carefully, she wouldterms havethat known that and the sun will always shine.” the public bydecision-makers a public fundraising campaign. Today, throug Friday, Nov. 8, at the local the purpose the scoping hearing was Now picture a city council facedofwith can understand and evaluate? that bluff-top property is the Ellwood Ave. The curtain will rise on limited to gathering public input on the deciding whether to approve the project Mesa Open Space in Goleta, which in8, 9, 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m. topics to be studied in the EIR,is Communications or not. There would specific be a presentation Mike Wondolowski Dicludes the butterfly grove where monarch at 2 p.m. not to find out of the butterflies by the applicant. There might be the onepublic’s rectoropinions of the Carpinteria Valley Association are over-wintering right now. blends project.who Evaluation judgment on the or more people or groups speak and (CarpinteriaValleyAssociation.org), local So, “Howado we stopThe thisplay thing?” By a series G.I.s teasing, project would come after the full dedicated study learning against the project declaring, “It will organization to maintaining the planning about the processtormenting, and and analysis of the EIR were complete— Walk In • 5 Minutes • Monday - Fridaycause 8-5 worldwide famine. It will cause small beach town natureparticipating of our community. in it! each other with light-hearte facts first, opinions later. our June Gloom to last for 11 months of In his 25 years of involvement in planning concern about the uncertai ROCKWELL PRINTING which they will Disoon return A large project like this onehecan the year, which clearly will result in unissues, hasrequire witnessed Mike visionary successes,is Communications Wondolowski sion and $12 for students a year or to get the EIR that 4850A Carpinteria Ave (behind Rockwell Cleaners) happy people and obviously an longer increase as through well as decisions were later widely rector of the Carpinteria Valley Association plazatheatercarpinteria.com process and get to the decision-making in crime.” regretted. When not stuck indoors, he can of(CarpinteriaValleyAssociation.org), a local Carpinteria the Ave. For m point. Oftentrying there aretentwists and turns Carpinteria’s The city council would be stuck be found enjoying treasures organization dedicated5285 to maintaining along thefacts, wayand (changed plans, up andand small to sort out all the opinions from including kayaking snorkeling beachalong townthe nature of our community. down economic surprise choose which they want to use to make aconditions, coast, running or hiking In on his the bluffs, or “va25 years of involvement in planning findings during the EIR process, etc.) that decision. That is not a way to make sound cationing” as a tent camper at theheState issues, has Beach. witnessed visionary successes, extend things even longer. as well as decisions that were later widely It is easy to lose track of proposed regretted. When not stuck indoors, he can ofprojects, especially bigger ones that take ten be found enjoying Carpinteria’s treasures Venga y en 5 minutos las obtendra • De lunes a viernes 8-5 a long time. The public is asked to pro- including kayaking and snorkeling along the ROCKWELL PRINTING vide different types of input at various coast, running or hiking on the bluffs, or “va4850A Carpinteria Ave (detrás de Rockwell Cleaners) points in the process. Someone who has cationing” as a tent camper at the State Beach.
How do we stop this thing??!! the lay of the land
Cate students mix with Peruvian students
… to the CHS H
… attend “Priva
PASSPORT PHOTOS IMMIGRATION PHOTOS
www.c
FOTOS de INMIGRACION FOTOS de PASAPORTE
What makes you cry?
man on the street LARRY NIMMER larry@nimmer.net
The plight of whales and dolphins in captivity. ––Jennifer McIntosh
Lack of sleep… I have two kids. ` ––Carrie Postma
Father-son moments. ––Keddy Clark
Injustice. ––Catherine Dalipe
Eating the mouthwatering chocolates of Chocolats du CaliBressan. ––Samantha McNeely
Larry’s comment: Extreme happiness and sadness.