For immediate release
Contact: Dick Flacks 805-962-2057
Olivia Uribe 805-563-0463
SUN COALITION CELEBRATES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN
UCSB’S LONGRANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Coalition known as Sustainable University Now (SUN) is celebrating achievement of one of its goals: the major south coast government bodies have scheduled public meetings to respond to UCSB’s recently recirculated Long Range Development Plan Environmental Impact Report (LRDP EIR). SUN Chair, Professor Richard Flacks, noted “UCSB is such an important and integral part of our community. With the University’s plan to add over 10,000 new residents on the SouthCoast and development about six times the size of the Camino Real shopping center, we have a lot to talk about.” He added, “We are pleased that local governments are stepping up to their responsibility to help make the LRDP the best it can be.”
Meetings to discuss responses to the LRDP EIR have been scheduled by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, the City of Goleta City Council, and the Goleta Water District Board of Directors. It is expected that the City of Santa Barbara’s Council will soon do likewise. In addition, UCSB has invited public comment at its own workshop to take place on Thurs March 12 from 7-8:30 pm at Santa Catalina Hall (formerly Francisco Torres), 6850 El Colegio, in the Linda Vista Room.
Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN) has been the convener of the SUN Coalition. Olivia Uribe, SB CAN’s Associate Director stated, “As with any public governmental meeting, this will give the public a chance to understand and comment on the University’s plans.” She noted that UCSB has set March 30 as the deadline to receive comments from the community. “SUN will certainly respond. And we expect and hope that interested individuals in the community as well as members of the organizations that make up SUN will provide their input and expertise.”
Meetings will take place as follows (it’s best to check agendas for exact times):
* MTD - March 24, 8:30 AM MTD, at its Headquarters at 505 Olive St.
* UCSB - March 12, 7-8:30 PM at Santa Catalina Hall (formerly Francisco Torres) 6850 El Colegio, in the Linda Vista Room
* Goleta Water Board - March 10, 6 PM, GWD Offices, 4699 Hollister Ave.
* GoletaCity Council - March 17, 6 PM, GoletaCity Hall
* SB CountyBoard of Supervisors - March 24, 9 AM, CountyAdministration Bldg
Professor Flacks concluded, “The SUN coalition thanks our government representatives and the University for involving the community in this ambitious expansion plan. We’re convinced that by working together we can address the tremendous opportunities and challenges UCSB expansion presents to all of us, and help[ to develop a truly sustainable university in our community.”
For reference, current SUN member organizations include the following:
Associated Students - Legislative Council (USCB)
Citizen's Planning Association (CPA)
Coalition for Sustainable Transportation (COAST)
Chilla Vista (UCSB)
Community Environmental Council
League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN
Santa Barbara Council on Research and Education (SBCORE)
Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter - Santa Barbara Group
PUEBLO Education Fund
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
