See the FEATURED PROPERTIES

 Proposed Housing project

 in Mission Hills 

September 2007:

The latest development plans for Mission Hills is on the South Side of Burton Mesa where the current shopping center is located.  It includes the shopping center lot as well as the vacant land next to it on the east side.  The plan is in its pre-application phase for a zone change. The owners want to rezone the larger, vacant parcel from commercial to single-family. The current parking lot would be rezoned from commercial to mixed-use.  They would put another commercial building near the car repair shop and an apartment building in the existing parking lot near Burton Mesa Blvd.

The preliminary plans are shown in the second photo above. Click on the photo to see it larger.

This is just in the preliminary stage and no other information is available at this time form the county.  Supervisor Joni Gray knows how we feel about high density housing (apartments included), but we need to make sure she has more letters in opposition to the possible plan to build housing other than single family homes. Maybe we can stop this one before it even gets through the planning department if we join together now to oppose. Please write, fax, email, or call Joni Gray's office so she can forward it to the County Planning Commissioners.  Joni's contact information is as follows:

Supervisor Joni Gray, 401 E. Cypress, Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: 737-7700

May 2006 Update:

Please tell your neighbors and friends of this latest update.  

I just spoke with Joni Gray's office and the proposed development next to the shopping center known as Mission Oaks will be on next Tuesday's adgenda at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Meeting in Santa Maria.  If you have not written a letter, please write to let the board know of our desire to not have high density housing in Mission Hills.  The ideal thing would be for people to join me at the meeting to express their concerns in person.  As you have heard, the consideration is to have single family as well as DUPLEX units on that lot.  The Planning Commission met on the issue and some of the commissioners would like the site to be considered for low income apartments. The letters that went out to some neighbors prior to that meeting in February was the consideration of rezoning the lot to 7R1 (7,000 square feet lots with 1 residence per lot), so people did not attend the meeting.  The belief was that the 7R1 zoning was desireable for our community and surly the developer was presenting plans for a 7R1 development.  The letter was wrong and the discussion never was about a 7R1 rezone!!

Joni told me the board needs to know what we would support on that site.  She is aware of our single family housing desires.  Right now it is zoned for commercial building.  Do we want commercial building or single family???  Commercial building is not in the developer/owners' plans right now.  

I have been told by Joni's office that they have only heard from approx. 30 people in the form of letters or email.  Please encourage your nighbors, friends, other concerned people to send the board a message through Supervisor Joni Gray's office (She will make sure all the supervisors receive it.) to make our feelings known.  Even a short statement is fine.

I hope some of you can join me next Tuesday at the Board of Supervisor's meeting in Santa Maria at the BETTERAVIA GOVERNMENT CENTER BOARD HEARING ROOM,  511 EAST LAKESIDE PARKWAY, SANTA MARIA.  The meeting starts at 9:00 and we are second on the Administrative Agenda. They estimate our concern will begin around 10:00 AM.  I will be there at 9:00 and encourage everyone who will attend to be there no later than 9:30 just in case the meeting items prior to ours run shorter than expected.  They have allowed 1 hour for Mission Oaks.  If you can attend and do not want to speak, please come anyway.  You can stand while another one of us speaks to make a statement that they speak for you as well.  We need a good show of support for our community.

I hope to see you Tuesday morning!

April 2006 Update:

I received information from Supervisor Joni Gray’s office concerning the parcel of vacant land next to our shopping center in Mission Hills.  (See February update for more details.)  The request for a change in zoning and the general plan amendment for this property will be heard by the Board of Supervisors in Santa Maria on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.  We do not know the time yet, but it will probably be between 9:30 and 11:30 AM. The Board has not taken a position on the changes yet and wants to hear from us!  I was asked to get this information out to everyone and ask you to let Supervisor Gray know what you want.  They want to know whether the community wants the zoning changed from commercial to residential, and in particular, what density might be acceptable.  She sent me notes from the Planning Commissioners meeting. (Click here to read the notes.) There is talk of it being a great location for low-income housing or apartment housing.  Other commissioners want it to stay commercial.  WE NEED TO BE HEARD!  If you are concerned about high-density housing, you must make it know.  The developer wants to put single family and duplex units there.  We fought so hard to keep the zoning as single family, 7R1, lots across the street.  We don’t want to sit back and let high density happen here either. 

 Your concerns, desires, arguments for the use of the parcel need to be made known.  It is best if we can have a big showing at the Board of Supervisor’s meeting on May 9.  We need to have a visual impact.  If you can make it to the meeting and need directions or more information, please contact me.  If you absolutely can’t attend, please make yourself heard by writing Supervisor Joni Gray.  She has said she will submit them to all the Board members.  The few who did already contact her, please come to the meeting or write her again.  A brief statement in person at the meeting or in writing is all you need to give.  If you work in Santa Barbara and can get away for a little while, you can go to the Boardroom there and make a statement on close circuit TV during the meeting as well.  Just make sure you exercise your right to be heard!

 More details and directions to the meeting will be added here prior to the meeting.                       

Mail to Supervisor Gray: 

 Supervisor Joni Gray                          or  her Lompoc office: 

511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 126      401 East Cypress Ave.
Santa Maria, CA 93455                         Lompoc, CA  93436

February 2006 Update:

I hate to be the one to bring bad news, but we need everyone to get their neighbors together to voice our concerns to the county again.

The vacant land next to the shopping center in Mission Hills is being considered for a rezoning.  The notices sent to the neighbors in the 300' vicinity stated the parcel was being considered for rezoning from commercial to 7-r-1.  The 7-r-1 zoning is 7,000 square foot lots with one residence per lot.  No real concern was raised from those who received the letters (at least none I am aware of) because the single-family zoning would be complimentary to our current housing.  The meeting took place with the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission last Wednesday, February 8.  Some of you may have read the Lompoc Record and the comments made about the proposed development. Planning Commissioner Joe Valencia was quoted regarding duplexes and mix use.  I called Joe to see if it was possibly a case of the paper making false statements.  I did not get any comments from Joe that would give me any comfort level in this matter.  The commission made no decision and sent it to the Supervisors for review.  At this point, I do not know when the Supervisors will review this matter.

I have sent a letter to Supervisors Joni Gray, Joseph Centeno, and Brooks Firestone.  We need everyone concerned to call and/or write Supervisor Gray and the other Supervisors.  Even if it is short, write or call to make a short statement.  If this parcel receives a rezone to R-2 or R-3, it will open the door for the parcels across the street to do the same.  We fought too hard in October 2004 to prevent that from happening.  Let's not let it happen now.

Speaking of the parcels on the north of Burton Mesa... they are in escrow again.  Leon Notrica, the seller's agent, said the buyer is planning single family homes.  That is good news.  But, if the parcel on the south side achieves a rezone, what is to stop these from getting one also and allowing the builder to build triplexes?

Please take action today and tell your neighbors take action as well.  It is important to do it right away so the decision makers know how we feel.  All the addresses and phone numbers for the supervisors are on the county website at:   http://www.countyofsb.org/cao/cob/hearings/board.asp and can also be found in the phone book.   

September 2005 Update:

The previous buyer, who met with us last October has backed out of the purchase.  The listing agent is currently marketing the property as being zoned R-1 for approx. 20+ homes, rather than his previous marketing stating the property has the possibility to be re-zoned to high-density.  The asking price is currently $2,000,000.  ($200,000 lower than previous)

I received a phone call several weeks ago from someone affiliated with a local developer stating she heard I would be able to assist her in knowing what the residents of Mission Hills would accept on that property.  I told her Calle Pasado was to remain open, stick with current zoning, and single story seemed to be the theme.  I also told her we could put together a focus group for them to meet with to assist in preliminary plans should they decide to explore the idea further.  If you would like to be added to my list for updates sent by e-mail and to possibly be a part of a focus group, please send me an email and I will add you to my list.

March 2005 Update:

I have spoken with Supervisor Joni Gray's office, County Planning and Development office, and County Zoning department and all have said they have had no further contact from the developer or anyone else about this project.  The listing agent, Leon Notrica of Notrica Realty, told me the property is still in escrow with the same buyer, but he does not know anything else.  He said the buyer indicated to him he is looking at single family options.  When I hear of any further developments I will update this site and put it in my next newsletter.

November 16, 2004 Update:

Last week a newspaper article was published in Lompoc Record stating Supervisor Joni Gray is in opposition to the project.  This prompted several people to comment to me their belief we have "Won".  The battle isn't over.  Please know we still have to be vigilant and show up for future meetings in order to keep showing our solidarity against the planned project as it was presented.  I spoke with Supervisor Gray's assistant today.  She has not heard from the developer since the meeting, thus no meetings have been set up yet.  She will let me know when other meetings or hearings are scheduled.  I will update this site as I hear more and email updates to those who asked to be on my email list for updates.  If you want to be added to the list, you can email me to let me know.

November 1, 2004 Update:

We had a good showing at the meeting last week.  Thanks to all who showed up and to those who spoke up.  I think Mr. Oroz got his earful!  It was nice to have such a strong unity among us.  I have heard from several who want to be kept informed on the next steps and meetings to come.  Several people have offered additional help when we need it.  I'll keep you updated.

The Developer's Plan

The two parcels in Mission Hills which are currently listed for sale and in escrow are being bought by a developer who wants to change the current zoning from single family to high density and build a 63 unit housing development.  The 63 units would consist of 21 triplex units to be listed for sale.  They will be 3 bedroom, 2 baths, two story, single car garage units.  The two parcels begin at the corner of Burton Mesa and Rucker Road and follow Burton Mesa east to the hillside.  The proposal includes turning Calle Pasado into a cul-de-sac at Burton Mesa.  The first photo above shows a Conceptual Site Plan provided by the buyer's consultant.

This project will bring an additional 250 plus residents to our small community.  The additional residents in such a small area will bring extra noise to our quiet area.  The traffic will dramatically increase at the Rucker Road/Burton Mesa intersection.  The school busses which currently use Calle Pasado as a turn around will be diverted on another street.  The project does not include recreational space or yard space for the children living there, giving them no place to play other than the streets.

The buyer has a right to build homes on the lots, but there are many concerned about the homes being consistant with the current zoning and neighborhoods.  Single story homes on small lots would be a better choice.  The project is inconsistant with Santa Barbara County housing ordinances and needs to be rethought.

PETITION

There is a petition circulating in opposition to the proposed plans.  It does not state we want zero development at that site, just not high density.  If you didn't get to sign the petition, let me know by phone (733-0191) or by email or call Grace Olson at 733-4485.  Either of us would be happy to make sure you have the opportunity to sign it.  You can also email me a statement to attach to the petitions.  My email address is: valeriegeorge@verizon.net. 

The petitions will be given to the Mission Hills Community Service District board, Supervisor Joni Gray, and the developer of the project.

MEETING

Thursday, October 28th, at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Supervisor Joni Gray is hosting a meeting for concerned residents to come hear from the developer, ask questions, and voice concerns.  The meeting will be at Los Berros School.  The developer and some members of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission are scheduled to be there.  It is VERY important for there to be a BIG crowd at this meeting.  You do not need to speak, but by being there, they know there is concern.  No one should be able to change the environment of a community by building something inconsistant with the existing land use without consulting with the existing stakeholders. 

Please mark your calendars for this important meeting: Thursday, October 28^th at 6:00-8:00 PM at Los Berros Elementary School.

 **********************************

Los Berros School Traffic Congestion Problem:

As a result of the meeting on October 28th, Supervisor Joni Gray asked Bert Johnson, Engineering Technician for the County of Santa Barbara Traffic Department for input on the traffic congestion problem at Los Berros School during dismissal/pick up time.  Joni's assistant, Susan Warnstrom emailed me his recommendations so I could inform residents of these ideas.  Please give the school principal, Ragan Fife, your input of likes and dislikes of these ideas.

I visited Los Berros School today to observe the traffic during let out time.  There are several options that the school could do to improve the traffic situation.  The major problem is the backup caused by vehicles lining up to get into the parking lot to pick up their kids.

1.)  reverse the flow in the parking lot by changing the entrance to an exit and vice versa

2.)  have the buses use the parking lot and restrict parents from entering (this would require the reversal of flow in the lot)

3.)  relocate the buses on to Calle Seis between Via Gala and Via Semi

4.)  Urge any faculty and parents that work at the school not to park on the school side of the roadways, allowing clear zones for parents who want to pick up their children from the curb.  (Less children will be tempted to cross the street at mid-block locations between cars)

I have spoken with the principal, Ragan Fife after my initial observations and will be copying him this e-mail for consideration.

Sincerely,

Bert Johnson, Engineering Technician