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Group receives grant, recognition for boundary initiative

By Staff

Buellton Is Our Town, the group behind an Urban Growth Boundary Initiative in the city, has received a grant and recognition for its efforts to put the proposed ordinance on the November ballot.

BIOT member Judi Stauffer accepted a $10,000 grant from The Fund for Santa Barbara in support the proposed initiative and a Certificate of Recognition from the state Assembly, signed by Assemblyman Pedro Nava, “for invaluable service and contributions to the Santa Barbara County community” at The Fund for Santa Barbara’s Spring Grant Awards party on June 12.

“We believe the Buellton UGB has the potential to transform Buellton,” said Stauffer in a statement released by BIOT, a group of Buellton residents and residents outside the city limits. “Before developers can build new projects outside the current city limits, they will have to make compelling cases to the community that their projects will be good for Buellton. The UGB will also protect valuable agricultural lands that surround Buellton from sprawl while focusing devel-opment inward to create a more vibrant town center.”

The Fund for Santa Barbara is a non- profit foundation that supports organiza-tions working for social, economic, environmental and political change in Santa Barbara County.

“This grant demonstrates that we have great confidence in Buellton Is Our Town as an effective organization to deliver on what they said they would do — pass this initiative — and in the process increase a sense of civic engagement by Buellton and greater Buellton residents,” said Geoff Green, The Fund for Santa Barbara executive director.

Under the proposal, expansion of the city limits or development of sewer or water services outside the existing city limits would require voter approval. The initiative would amend the city’s General Plan and would be in effect until Dec. 31, 2025, the life span of the current General Plan. The General Plan is the document that establishes zones for different types of development such as commercial and residential uses, traffic circulation patterns and future development.

The Buellton City Council is scheduled to decide on July 10 whether to adopt the initiative as an ordinance themselves or put it on the Nov. 4 ballot for a public vote. On June 12, the council decided to study the initiative for 30 days before deciding on option.

Members of the group gathered 616 signatures from April 26-27 to qualify the proposal for the November ballot. All but 44 signatures were declared valid by the county last month. The proponents only needed a minimum of 239 valid signatures, 10 percent of the city’s registered voters.