MAR. 14-21, 2019
Eco-Apocalypse in Carp’s Planning Process
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PAU L WELLM AN
an apocalyptic events be folded into long-range landuse planning? The City of Carpinteria is attempting to do just that by incorporating the dire uncertainties of sea-level rise into its general plan revisions. Every 20 years, the city reviews its policies affecting development. It’s a lengthy, difficult process—just how difficult the three members of a special City Hall committee are now discovering. With much wrangling, Commissioner John Callender tried to sort out the statistical tables Carp Planning Commissioner John Callender supposedly showing when and by how much sea-levels would rise around eventualities is challenging. Should City Carpinteria by 2100. Callender’s point was Hall limit development on potentially inunthat the public should have a clearer sense dated properties? Should structures that get of the urgency. Last year, the best scientific wiped out once be allowed to rebuild? Cardata available showed Carpinteria facing a pinteria will continue its 36-year effort to 5-foot rise, but recent reports now put it at buttress its current beach berms, but City a 6.6-foot increase due to the rapidly melt- Hall can only fortify its own beaches, not those under State Parks department jurisdiction. Commissioner David Allen said that City Hall’s adaptive strategies — yet to be determined — will be triggered by “objective and measurable” tipping points, from tide gauges, narrowing beach widths, and increased storm frequencies. ing Arctic ice. But even assuming only a But beginning when? asked Councilmem5-foot increase, Carpinteria is estimated to ber Al Clark. The starting point, consultant lose 579 residential structures, 4.8 miles of Rita Bright told the commission, had been beach, 1.5 miles of railroad track, and 2.5 2010, though she added that so far there miles of beach. haven’t been any measurable differences —Nick Welsh Rewriting a general plan based on these because of sea-level rise.
Rewriting a general plan based on eventualities is challenging.
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THE INDEPENDENT
MARCH 21, 2019
INDEPENDENT.COM
PAU L WE LLM A N FI L E P HOTO
delante Charter School may finally be getting a more permanent home within Franklin Elementary School. Adelante has been operating out of a combination of permanent and portable classrooms on Franklin’s campus for the last 15 years. However, with a $2 million allocation from Measure J funds, the school may be transitioning into more permanent classrooms. Three programs are co-located on the Franklin property: Franklin, Adelante, and the Franklin Preschool Center. Superintendent Cary Matsuoka Currently, all of Franklin Elementary’s 28 classrooms are in permanent buildfront office that are currently lacking at ings. Both Adelante and the preschool Adelante. Finally, Adelante would leave two teach students in permanent and portable permanent classrooms for Franklin’s use. classrooms. To get students out of portable A contract with KBZ Architects to begin trailers, Santa Barbara school district super- planning the new preschool will be preintendent Cary Matsuoka recommends sented to the board for approval at its April using the retired Parma School property 2 meeting. The facility-use agreement and down the street to build a new preschool. charter renewal for Adelante will be preThe current preschool’s three-year-old sented to the board on May 28 and will be program would give its Franklin building on the agenda for approval on June 11. If to Adelante. This would add about 5,000 approved, the plan is expected to be comsquare feet, three permanent classrooms, pleted in time for the 2022-23 school year. office space, a staff lounge, storage, and a —Blanca Garcia