January 2008

So many of our supporters have expressed a great desire to do something concrete to preserve More Mesa.  Now there is a chance to do just that!  We need a “big presence” at an upcoming County sponsored Workshop on the planned More Mesa Biological Resource Study.

This study, recently discussed in the November 2007 News, has been requested by the owner of More Mesa.  Its purpose is to carry out an updated Biological Study of More Mesa; a prerequisite to making any changes to the “Environmentally Sensitive Habitat” (ESH) overlay on More Mesa. Therefore, as you can see, this is a very meaningful request. 

The Scoping Document for the study has been prepared, published and is available on the County website:  www.sbcountyplanning.org.   (Click on “Recent Updates” and then “More Mesa Biological Resource Study”– the Scoping Document is under “Proposed Scope of Work”.)

The announcement of the workshop, whose purpose is to discuss the Scoping Document, is also on this page.  Details of the workshop are as follows:

Date:  January 10, 2008
Time:  6 PM
Place: Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 Anapamu St.

You may speak during the public comment period.  However, please note that discussion will be limited to only biological concerns and the focus of the study.  If you are unable to attend, instructions for mailing your comments may also be found in the announcement of the Workshop on the County site at the web address above.

When submitting written comments, please request that your comments be included as part of the public record – the deadline for submission is January 16th.

We urge you to attend this meeting.  A large turnout will demonstrate to the County, More Mesa’s owner, and the entire Santa Barbara area, that More Mesa occupies a special place in the heart of our community, and that the community cares deeply about its preservation.  Remember that this is the first step in what will be a series of meetings where your support will be vitally important.  Let’s fill up the hearing room on January 10th!!

Thanks for caring about More Mesa, and a Happy New Year from all of us at the More Mesa Preservation Coalition!