Upper East Association (UEA)

For more information about Santa Barbara's Upper East Association,
see   http://www.geocities.com/SBUppereast   and  
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SBUpperEast.

 

 

 

December 7, 2008

 

 

Mayor Marty Blum

Members of the Santa Barbara City Council

City Hall

Santa Barbara, CA

 

SUBJECT:  Comments on Policy H14 in Plan Santa Barbara

 

 

Dear Mayor Blum and Members of the Santa Barbara City Council:

 

Over 60 residents attended the December 2, 2008 meeting of the Upper East Association to discuss the boundary of the Upper East side and specifically to discuss Policy H14, proposed in the November 2008, General Plan Update Framework: Draft Policy Preferences report.  The general tenor of the meeting was that people who live in the area of the Upper East neighborhood live here as a matter of choice and as such do not wish to see major changes to the neighborhood, particularly as it relates to potential increased density. As a result of this over two-hour session of discussion and dialogue, those present solidified by an overwhelming majority vote the following statements:

 

1.         The Upper East Association supports continuation of the current, adopted Secondary Residential Unit Zoning Ordinance as now incorporated into the zoning code.

 

 Major reasons expressed for support of the current ordinance are:

 

• Use of secondary units only by owners and family members of the main residence, not as rental properties
• Desire for construction of such units for use by family members, particularly elderly family members who may need in-home care.
• Compliance with strict architectural design review, Historic Landmark review, set back requirements, etc.
• Avoidance of additional on-street parking by tenants.
• Continuance of the requirement of physical attachment to the main residence, thus allowing for a better architectural solution in terms of size, bulk, and scale.

• Avoidance of a dramatic increase to the population density of the neighborhood. An increase in density because some lots are large would be detrimental to the aesthetic character of the neighborhood.
• Elimination of the potential increase in density which would increase traffic, parking, and infrastructure requirements, such as water and sewer.

 

2. The Upper East Association requests that the northeastern boundary of the Upper East in Plan Santa Barbara include Roosevelt Elementary School (Emerson Street boundary) and nearby streets of Plaza Rubio, East Padre, Montgomery Street, and Pedregosa  to Olive Avenue.  This would be consistent with the Riviera Association's boundary.  The southeastern boundary of the Upper East should exclude the Bungalow Special Design District.  Our proposed Upper East project area with mapped boundaries are attached in a separate document (Exhibit 1). 

 

Major points for this action were:

 

• This boundary allocation would be more in alignment with those present historical understanding of what the Upper East Side neighborhood traditionally has been.
• The inclusion of those blocks below Valerio Street will be important as issues of a sustainable neighborhood are studied further by the neighborhood.
• The Bungalow District has very special interests and issues and it seemed appropriate that the two areas not overlap.

 

At the November 12^th  UEA meeting, attendees authorized submittal of a letter of public comment to the Planning Commission that focused on the neighborhood's concern regarding placing residential second units in El Pueblo Viejo II/Mission Lands area, or where structures of historic merit exist (letter of November 13, 2008 to George Myers, Chairman of Planning Commission). 

 

As the City of Santa Barbara continues to review and process the general plan update during this next year, it is the intention of the Upper East Association to hold ongoing neighborhood conversations regarding all the issues of making a more sustainable neighborhood.  It is anticipated that the next meeting subject of conversation will center on traffic circulation, on and off street parking areas, and more specifically the concept of the Mobility Oriented Development Areas as it relates to our neighborhood.

 

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on policies contained in Plan Santa Barbara.  We look forward to working with City Community Development staff through the environmental review and Plan approval process.  We will continue to report back to both the Council and the Planning Commission as issues are solidified with our association members.

 

 

 

Fred Sweeney

Upper East Association

Meeting Facilitator

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  Exhibit 1, Description of Upper East and boundary map in a separate file.