BALLOT ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE B
Santa Barbara's unique, small town character is under assault! A YES VOTE ON MEASURE B IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO STOP HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY.
Recently, shock ran through our town when residents saw massive, out-of-scale buildings constructed on Chapala Street. These buildings are just the tip of the iceberg-more are planned. They will become a common, defining feature in our city unless we act now.
The City Council was asked to address the problem of high-rise development, but declined. Consequently, citizens organized and gathered more than 11,500 signatures to put this initiative on the ballot amending the City Charter to lower building heights.
By voting yes on Measure B, you will place lower building height limits in the City Charter and preserve Santa Barbara's unique charm and small town atmosphere. Measure B requires that buildings in our historic downtown do not exceed 40' and that buildings in other commercial areas do not exceed 45'.
Imagine the impact of a high-rise building in or near your neighborhood! Bigger buildings overshadow our streets, block views, and result in lower air quality and increased traffic congestion. Measure B is essential to keep new development in harmony with the character and scale of our city.
In today's economy, influenced by environmental concerns, smaller buildings are greener and more sustainable than high-rises. Smaller buildings require fewer materials to build, cost less to heat and cool, and are therefore more affordable.
Over and over, Santa Barbarans have said what they love about their city is its views, sense of openness, and small town feel. These qualities set Santa Barbara apart from other communities.
For this and future generations, your yes vote on Measure B is vital. PRESERVE SANTA BARBARA'S VIEWS, CHARM, AND BEAUTY FOR ALL SANTA BARBARANS!
VOTE YES on MEASURE B!
[The undersigned proponent(s) of the primary argument in favor of ballot
Measure B at the Santa Barbara City election to be held on November 3,
2009, hereby state(s) that such argument is true and correct to the best
of their knowledge and belief.]
Bill Mahan, AIAE, Chairman, Save El Pueblo Viejo Committee
Sue Adams, President, Pearl Chase Society
Frank Banales, Executive Director, Zona Seca
Jeanne Graffy, Former Supervisor, County of Santa Barbara
Connie Hannah, Past President, League
of Women Voters of Santa Barbara
YES ON MEASURE B'S REBUTTAL ARGUMENT (pdf):
What do you want the future of Santa Barbara to be?
Do you want to preserve Santa Barbara’s small town atmosphere?
Do you want to prevent more massive buildings such as are now on Chapala Street?
Do you value and recognize Santa Barbara's unique character? If so, vote YES on Measure B!
Don’t be fooled; opponents say the current 60’ limit is just fine. But that limit allowed monster buildings to loom over our beautiful downtown, blocking sunlight and views and threatening to turn Santa Barbara into just another soulless, congested city.
Opponents claim that existing, landmark buildings taller than the Measure B height limit could never be rebuilt if they were destroyed in a disaster. These buildings can always be rebuilt if you think they should be. All it takes is your vote.
Opponents of Measure B say that overdevelopment in downtown Santa Barbara will somehow reduce development elsewhere on the South Coast. The City of Santa Barbara has no control over what happens outside its borders. An over-built downtown will not stop development elsewhere.
Reducing height limits to 40' in El Pueblo Viejo and 45' elsewhere makes environmental and financial sense. The vast majority of affordable units are in buildings of one or two stories. Smaller buildings are affordable by design - they use less materials to construct - and more environmentally sustainable - they use less energy to heat and to cool.
VOTE TO PRESERVE THE SANTA BARBARA WE ALL CHERISH!
VOTE YES ON MEASURE B!
(The undersigned proponent(s) of the rebuttal to the ballot argument in opposition to ballot Measure B at the Santa Barbara City election to be held on November 3, 2009, hereby state(s) that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.)
Marty Blum, Mayor, City of Santa Barbara,
Harriet Miller, Former Mayor, City of Santa Barbara,
Hal Conklin, Former Mayor, City of Santa Barbara,
Sheila Lodge, Former Mayor, City of Santa
Barbara,
Dale Francisco, Councilmember, City of Santa Barbara
