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36 Bruce Steele & Diane Pleschner Steele April 21, 2006 Mr. Brooks Firestone, Third District Supervisor Mr. Bob Field, VPAC Chair 104 East Anapamu Street c/o Third District Supervisor Santa Barbara, CA East Anapamu Street Santa Barbara, CA RE: Opposition to proposed downzoning under Draft SY Valley Community Plan Dear Brooks and Bob, My husband Bruce and I reside at 1570 W. Hwy 246 in Buellton, Parcel # This is a 30-acre property, zoned Ag 10, that is one of the parcels proposed for downzoning under the Draft SY Valley Community Plan. We have attended several recent VPAC meetings, although we could not attend the April 19 meeting. At the previous VPAC meeting, we both voiced concern over the negative impacts that we learned would accrue to our property if the downzoning proceeds as planned. Our 30-acre parcel is proposed for downzoning to Ag 40, which would make the parcel nonconforming. Although perhaps considered legal by the County, we learned from bankers present at the meeting that such nonconforming status would precipitate higher loan rates if we were to refinance the property, and could prevent securing a future loan in the case of property loss or damage. We certainly wish to avoid negative consequences, so we voiced opposition to the downzoning plan at the March meeting and are now expressing our opposition in writing. If such a plan is included in the SY Valley Draft Plan, we request that our property be exempted from the downzoning proposal before environmental review begins. We offer the following rationale: Even though the property totals 30 acres, it could not be divided into three 10-acre parcels because the County s existing length-to-width regulation would prohibit such a lot split. The property is much longer than it is wide, even if divided into only two parcels instead of three. Of the 30 acres, more than 20 acres lie in the 100-year floodplain of the Santa Ynez River. Considering County Flood and Planning Department regulations and restrictions, the possibility of development, much less a lot split, is highly unlikely. Further, we recommend that the Strategic Planning Site Overlay be included in the project description, in lieu of downzoning, before the SY Valley Draft Plan is sent out for environmental review. We urge you to support this substitution, rather than simply designating the Strategic Planning Site Overlay as an alternative in the environmental document. We also support the Strategic Planning Site Overlay rather than the Heritage Site Overlay because it provides a more equitable balance between property and public interests and potentially offers greater value for landowners. Thanks very much to you both for your consideration of our concerns. Best regards, Bruce Steele Diane Pleschner-Steele PO Box 336 Buellton, CA Phone: Fax: dplesch@earthlink.net

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38 Bruce Steele & Diane Pleschner Steele September 11, 2006 Mr. Brooks Firestone, Third District Supervisor Ms. Joni Gray, Fourth District Supervisor County of Santa Barbara County of Santa Barbara 104 East Anapamu Street 511 E. Lakeside Pkwy, Ste 126 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Maria, CA RE: Opposition to proposed downzoning under Draft SY Valley Community Plan Dear Brooks and Ms. Gray, This letter reiterates the concerns and opposition we expressed in our letter dated April 21, My husband Bruce and I reside at 1570 W. Hwy 246 in Buellton, Parcel # This is a 30-acre property, zoned Ag 10, one of the parcels proposed for downzoning under the Draft SY Valley Community Plan. We have attended several recent VPAC meetings, where we both voiced concern over the negative impacts that we learned would accrue to our property if the downzoning proceeds as planned. Our 30- acre parcel was proposed for downzoning to Ag 40, which would make the parcel nonconforming. Although perhaps considered legal by the County, we learned from bankers present at the meeting that such nonconforming status would precipitate higher loan rates if we were to refinance the property, and could prevent securing a future loan in the case of property loss or damage. We certainly wish to avoid negative consequences, so we voiced opposition to the downzoning plan at the March meeting and have expressed our opposition in writing, including this letter. Our April 21 letter requested that our property be exempted from the downzoning proposal. We offer the following rationale: Even though the property totals 30 acres, it could not be divided into three 10-acre parcels because the County s existing length-to-width regulation would prohibit such a lot split. The property is much longer than it is wide, even if divided into only two parcels instead of three. Of the 30 acres, more than 20 acres lie in the 100-year floodplain of the Santa Ynez River. Considering County Flood and Planning Department regulations and restrictions, the possibility of development, much less a lot split, is highly unlikely. Further, we recommend that the Strategic Planning Site Overlay be included in the project description. We urge you to support this substitution, rather than simply designating the Strategic Planning Site Overlay as an alternative in the environmental document. We also support the Strategic Planning Site Overlay rather than the Heritage Site Overlay because it provides a more equitable balance between property and public interests and potentially offers greater value for landowners. Thank you very much for your consideration of our concerns. Best regards, Bruce Steele Diane Pleschner-Steele PO Box 336 Buellton, CA Phone: Fax: dplesch@earthlink.net

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