Development threatens to overtake Goleta’s agricultural heritage. Now is the time to give Goleta voters the final say on proposals to rezone our few remaining large agricultural parcels. MEASURE G2012 protects Goleta’s agricultural land. Under Measure G2012, zoning changes to Goleta parcels currently designated for agriculture could occur only with voter approval, with limited exceptions, for the
next twenty years. MEASURE G2012 upholds the Goleta General Plan. Goleta’s General Plan balances protecting agriculture with residential and commercial development now and in the future. The voice of the entire community should be heard before upsetting this balance. MEASURE G2012 gives power to Goleta voters. Today, it takes the votes of only three City Council members to trade Goleta’s agricultural future for Orange County-style development. G2012 would give the community the final review of council actions that rezone major agricultural lands. MEASURE G2012 promotes democracy and civic engagement. The public often gets too little notice of important items before a council vote. An election on a rezoning proposal would provide sufficient time to understand the full impacts of rezoning large agricultural parcels on Goleta’s services and infrastructure, such as water, public safety, and roads.
