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IV Parking Plan Rejected By CCC
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Congratulations to Scotty Bull, the rest of the Surfrider Foundation, and residents for their victory at the CCC today.
The County of SB came before the Coastal Commission today to seek approval for a preferential parking permit plan on all Isla Vista residential streets. This plan when implemented would severely restrict public beach access and charge residents up to $150/ year and non-residents up to $8/day and $432/year.
Representatives of Santa Barbara Chapter Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club as well as local residents opposed the plan at the hearing, urging the Commission to deny it, and instead adopt an alternative that would allow free parking during the day and institute a preferential permit parking enforcement plan at night only.
Commissioner Burke spoke first and said the problem is related to the University, not the public (commuters are parking in IV to avoid the high cost of parking on campus). Burke said that UCSB needs to 'step up' and deal with the problem, and charging $400 to park in IV is not 'rational' and he will not support the plan.
Commissioners Shallenberger said Kruer both also blamed the University and said that UCSB should make more efforts to 'get people out of their cars.'
Commissioner Reilly said the problem is that the University isn't even a party to the plan. Reilly suggested that one approach would be to require that the SB Co. plan to tie fees to University parking fees .... otherwise students will just park in the cheaper locale.
Commissioner Wan said the problem with the 'solution' is that it punishes the public. The mandate for the Commission is to protect the public, and public access, not the University or the County. It is wrong, Wan said, to solve the problems of the County and/or the University on the back of the public by eliminating Coastal Act access protections.
Commissioner Burke then said that the parking plan should include UCSB, and why, for example, is the UCSB housing project on Friday and not today?
Chairwoman Caldwell said that, among other things, the university/ county could enforce zoning, prohibit freshman from having cars, grant on-campus parking based upon IV housing, or that the university could simply reduce on-campus parking. Only recommendation Meg could provide given the circumstances is DENIAL, with advice that the parties get their act together in the future.
Commissioner Burke then moved to deny the plan, with Commissioner Padilla providing the second.
The Commission then voted unanimously to DENY the plan, with Commissioners Padilla, Kram, Burke, Reilly, Wan, Caldwell, Kruer, Potter and Shallenberger all voting to deny.
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Representatives of Santa Barbara Chapter Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club as well as local residents opposed the plan at the hearing, urging the Commission to deny it, and instead adopt an alternative that would allow free parking during the day and institute a preferential permit parking enforcement plan at night only.
Commissioner Burke spoke first and said the problem is related to the University, not the public (commuters are parking in IV to avoid the high cost of parking on campus). Burke said that UCSB needs to 'step up' and deal with the problem, and charging $400 to park in IV is not 'rational' and he will not support the plan.
Commissioners Shallenberger said Kruer both also blamed the University and said that UCSB should make more efforts to 'get people out of their cars.'
Commissioner Reilly said the problem is that the University isn't even a party to the plan. Reilly suggested that one approach would be to require that the SB Co. plan to tie fees to University parking fees .... otherwise students will just park in the cheaper locale.
Commissioner Wan said the problem with the 'solution' is that it punishes the public. The mandate for the Commission is to protect the public, and public access, not the University or the County. It is wrong, Wan said, to solve the problems of the County and/or the University on the back of the public by eliminating Coastal Act access protections.
Commissioner Burke then said that the parking plan should include UCSB, and why, for example, is the UCSB housing project on Friday and not today?
Chairwoman Caldwell said that, among other things, the university/ county could enforce zoning, prohibit freshman from having cars, grant on-campus parking based upon IV housing, or that the university could simply reduce on-campus parking. Only recommendation Meg could provide given the circumstances is DENIAL, with advice that the parties get their act together in the future.
Commissioner Burke then moved to deny the plan, with Commissioner Padilla providing the second.
The Commission then voted unanimously to DENY the plan, with Commissioners Padilla, Kram, Burke, Reilly, Wan, Caldwell, Kruer, Potter and Shallenberger all voting to deny.
