Category: Uncategorized

Independent gets it wrong, but MMPC gets it right!

While the announcement of potential development was no surprise to any of us at the More Mesa Preservation Coalition, a recent article in the Independent (30 July 2015) , in response to a More Mesa Press release (here and here),  got it wrong. We have been tracking the possibility for development almost on a day-to-day basis for more than a year now. And while we did not know exactly when the owner of More Mesa would choose to announce the potential for development, we were expecting it.

We were also expecting the developer to take exception to restrictions which have been in place for More Mesa for decades, as well as to seek approval for a much larger development. Which they did as well; in an attempt to expand the development envelope in the Community Plan. Finally, while none of these moves by the developer was a surprise, the task ahead is daunting and we will need all the volunteer time and financial help our community can muster.

I will keep you posted.
Valerie

LATE BREAKING NEWS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT …

Well, the day we knew was coming, but wouldn’t welcome, has arrived.

On Tuesday, Kenneth E. Marshall, President of the development consulting firm Dudek, notified the Santa Barbara Planning Commission that he represented the Kalid Saud Al Shebaily Group (KSSG), the owners of More Mesa. He is joined by Jack Theimer and Kim Kimball.

The new group has sent their opening salvo in the form of objections to a number of the provisions in the updated Eastern Goleta Valley Plan. The centerpiece of their early effort is to raise the number of houses permitted to be built on More Mesa to more than the 70 that are currently allowed.

Mr. Marshall’s objections came just two days before this morning’s Planning Commission hearing to approve the plan. We were also there … as we have been throughout this entire nine year process. Dudek’s letter seems to be an initial feeler about development. We know there is probably much to come and we will keep you posted. We are assured by the Planning Department that no plans have been submitted and it is not clear whether or not any plans currently exist.

Look for further news in special alerts, monthly e-Updates and in the Monthly News on our web site.

Thanks for caring about More Mesa!

Lots of Special Birds

A wide area of More Mesa has been surveyed within the last few days. We are most happy to report that 34 different species were identified during this one survey. Among them were two raptors, a Peregrine Falcon and a Cooper’s Hawk. Also of very special interest were eight singing Grasshopper Sparrows and five Blue Grosbeaks. Moreover we are most pleased to relate that fledglings of these two species were observed as well!

We are indebted to Mark Holmgren for this extensive report, the details of which can be found at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S23709737

And, they are still with us … a kite was reported hunting on the west side of More Mesa on May 31!

Locations of Grasshopper Sparrow and Blue Grosbeak sightings.

  
Grasshopper Sparrows

A Cautionary Tale

In our Monthly News for October of last year we talked about the distinct difference between the cliffs of More Mesa on the east side and those of the west side.  In that issue we emphasized the danger involved in the steep, unstable and unpredictable west side cliffs of More Mesa, those consisting of the Santa Barbara Formation. By way of contrast, we described the eastern cliffs, of Monterey Shale, as a very old clay formation that erodes slowly and has a gentler sloping grade. Soon after that October report we noticed a sizable rock fall … and this one was on the eastern side !

And just a few days ago, another slide (estimated to be 30 feet by 50 feet and about 4 feet high) came tumbling down from the eastern cliffs below Hope Ranch. The photographer who captured the image below (Glenn Avolio) estimated that the fall contained at least a million pounds of rock.

Moral of the Story:  While the western cliffs may be younger and more treacherous than the eastern cliffs, do not discount the eastern cliffs.  They are also extremely dangerous!

2014 … AN EXCITING YEAR FOR MMPC!

Updated Web Site
As a fitting symbol of welcome to the new year, our updated and completely revamped MMPC website went “live” very early 01/01/2014. The power of its new WordPress format was wonderfully proven all throughout this past amazing year. New formats, layouts, search tools, clear links and additions made our award winning website even better than ever. And, one of the most exciting changes, is that the MMPC website can now be read using mobile devices! This means you can read the monthly news … at a glance … from your cell phone. Many thanks and kudos go to Lynn Watson, our web site manager, for all the hours and hard work it took to bring about this transformation of our site. For full details see the January 2014 News.

More Mesa Symposium
The second More Mesa Symposium was held at Bren Hall of UCSB on March 15th. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the day greatly appreciated by all. Attendees heard a variety of papers by a team of experienced environmentalists including: Wayne Ferren on ecology, John Storrer on raptors, and Dan Gira on the potential for development of More Mesa. Displays told several additional More Mesa stories, and our Speaker Panel Discussion gave the community an opportunity to ask questions of this prestigious group of More Mesa experts.

For those who were unable to attend, as well as those who want to review the presentations they heard, the entire 2014 Symposium is available on our web site. These six separate videos include, a brief introduction to the Symposium, four presentations from experts on More Mesa and the Panel Discussion that ended the morning session. Symposium presentations may be found in the “Events” section here.

More Mesa Forever Campaign
MMPC has become aware that several proposals are currently being evaluated for development of More Mesa. And although the owner has not yet elected to go forward with any of these proposals, a decision may be made in the near future.

This intelligence led us to launch the More Mesa Forever Campaign last fall. With this campaign we will develop a public/private partnership that will permit us to purchase More Mesa and establish a plan to continue its broad and diverse use, its sound maintenance and also improve its wildlife habitat. We have taken the lead in the first stage of this campaign, which we call the Ready Position. We truly believe that now is the time to act quickly to preserve More Mesa, “the last great place” in Santa Barbara, for our children, for the wildlife, and forever.

Plans for the 2015

• Complete the three remaining critical steps in the “Getting Ready” Phase of our More Mesa Forever campaign. These are:
  • Enlist a volunteer grassroots force of 1000 or more supporters. (We are already very close to this support level.)
  • Establish critical relationships with county and state decision-makers and funders.
  • Develop both a plan to save More Mesa and a citizen-driven plan for its use.
  • Raise $25,000 in seed money for this effort. (Thanks to caring and generous friends, we have already raised the seed money.)
• Continue working with More Mesa’s owner in a manner that not only protects the biological, aesthetic and recreational resources of More Mesa, but also addresses his interests, as well as those of other More Mesa stakeholders.

As always … thank you all for your wonderful support, and for loving this very special place.
Our warmest holiday wishes,
Valerie Olson,
More Mesa Preservation Coalition.

Thanks to John Bailey for the photo of a White-tailed Kite on More Mesa.