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In pursuit of our mission to preserve More Mesa forever, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC) constantly strives to reach the broadest spectrum of our community with our message.  One technique we have used in the past is illustrated talks tailored to the needs of audiences such as Homeowners Associations, Fraternal and Service Organizations and Environmental Groups.  We are currently preparing to accelerate these types of activities, so that we are able to connect with even more members of our Santa Barbara community.  Supporters can help by letting us know of any organization or group that would welcome a talk on More Mesa.  We typically focus on ecological values, recreational resources or history, but can adapt the length and content of any presentation, as appropriate to the particular audience.

Please contact us via the Contact page.

Spring is in the air on More Mesa. 

More Mesa For Sale
Many of you may have heard More Mesa is for sale.  This does not come as a surprise to us at the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC), since there have been persistent rumors to that effect for several months.  With the official listing of the property, it is now clear that the owner, Mr. Earl Holding has definitely decided to sell More Mesa.  The asking price, $110 Million, is a very large number!  It is difficult to imagine that a sale at such a price will be easily accomplished.

Ecological Importance
The County and State Coastal Commission have identified More Mesa as having significant  ecological value and importance.  More Mesa is even more significant since it is the last remaining large coastal open space in the Goleta Valley.  Of its 265 total acres, 225 have been identified Environmentally Sensitive Habitat (ESH).  This means that, currently, only 40 acres (see Development Threat) are permitted to be developed (up to 70 houses).  Further, the County has identified environmentally sensitive resources within these 40 acres: a vernal pool, wetlands and nearby white-tailed kite roosts and nests.  For all these reasons, any proposed development, even within these 40 acres, would have to address substantial environmental issues.

A Community Treasure:  For more than six decades, More Mesa has held a very special place in the heart of the Santa Barbara community.  MMPC, founded in 2000, currently has 800 supporters specifically committed to preserving More Mesa.  Other environmental organizations and community members share this mission as well.  Any future development proposal is sure to raise substantial citizen concerns from well organized and active community groups.

What Now?:  The offering of a property for sale does not mean any development has yet been proposed.  It means there may be a new owner some time in the future.  Moreover, it is not obvious that $110 Million would be the actual sales price, when adopted plans restrict development to 40 acres. At present, the MMPC will wait to see what transpires.  In the recent past, environmental and conservation organizations, including MMPC, have engaged in various discussions centered around potential purchase of More Mesa for purposes of preservation.  That process will continue.

What You Can Do to Help

• Stay informed by visiting our web  site and checking the monthly news.
• Raise awareness of the value of More Mesa to our community by talking to your neighbors and friends about what More Mesa means to all of us.
• Become familiar with More Mesa and educate others about its ecological and recreational value to the community.
• Encourage people to sign up as More Mesa Preservation Coalition supporters by e-mailing us via the Contact page. As always, thank you all for caring about More Mesa!!

Crested Caracaras are rare in Santa Barbara County. On Friday, February 2nd, a Caracara was photographed by David Levasheff in the south-west corner of More Mesa.
Larger pictures and a story of the encounter can be found here.

At the beginning of this new year, we have exciting news to report about another glorious open space in the Santa Barbara area; the San Marcos Foothills.

For decades, the Santa Barbara Community, as well as and a host of environmental organizations, have worked consistently and diligently to protect this area of great scenic beauty and biological significance.  Now, after years of collaborative efforts, and in conjunction with a local developer, a large portion of the San Marcos Foothills has been preserved.  Early this month, Jeff Bermant, donated 200 acres to the Trust For Public Land (TPL), who will subsequently deed this gift to the County of Santa Barbara.  Our sincerest congratulations to all the parties involved, and especially to the San Marcos Foothills Coalition whose members have worked tirelessly for these seven years to preserve this wonderful area.

When the More Mesa Preservation Coalition came into being in 2000, there were three open spaces in need of protection; Ellwood Mesa, the San Marcos Foothills and More Mesa. Now only More Mesa remains.

Happy New Year from all of us at the More Mesa Preservation Coalition!

San Marcos Foothills from More Mesa

Views of San Marcos Foothills

As the year comes to a close, we would like to share some highlights of MMPC’s work in 2006:

• In early May, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC) hosted a Forum for all candidates seeking the position of Second District Supervisor. This two hour event was very well attended, with about 100 of our neighbors present. Residents were eager to hear what each candidate had to say, with regard to specific questions about More Mesa, and Open Space in general. Details of the forum, including all candidate responses, were documented on this web site, a feature that was appreciated and well received by the community.

•  MMPC had strong representation on a year long Visioning Process for the unincorporated portion on the Second District.  The final and approved document describing the work done by the Goleta Visioning Committee is now available [here]. We are gratified that More Mesa has a prominent place in the chapter of the document that is concerned with Open Space and Parks.

• As usual, many hours have been spent toward insuring appropriate development on the edges of More Mesa.  We are hopeful that the implementation of the new “Design Guidelines” for the Second District will ease and standardize this process during reviews at the BAR and the Planning Commission.

• Finally, in a year where routinely occupied kite nests were often empty, we are happy to report that our white-tailed kites have been much in evidence and prolific as well.  They have fledged at least eight chicks this year!

Celebrate the season in a most glorious way … visit More Mesa! Our warmest holiday wishes to all of you.

More Mesa Sunset

Another note from the Board …
As reported in the February News, the Goleta Visioning Committee was formed and tasked with conceiving a vision for the Eastern Goleta Valley (Second District) 20 years from now.  The expectation is that the committee’s recommendations will soon become a framework for a Goleta Community Plan update.  A draft of the document summarizing the committee’s work over the past eight months is now available [here].

The draft may be accessed under the “Attachments/Presentation” column for the 9/16/06 meeting.  There are two prominent sections that should be of interest to all More Mesa supporters; Stewardship of the Environment and Open Space and Parks.  We hope you will look carefully at these, and other, sections as well.  Voicing your opinion will be a great help to the committee, and your community.  Let us know what you think of the draft via the Contact page

We live in a truly beautiful place. Thanks so much for caring about it.

Oak Hollow, More Mesa.