Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goleta council authorizes LAFCO application to seek sphere of influence for Glen Annie and South Patterson
Summary
By a 4–1 vote the council authorized staff to submit a sphere‑of‑influence application to LAFCO focused on the Glen Annie Golf Course and expanded South Patterson areas, and to return with a general‑plan amendment initiation. Ocean Meadows and North Fairview were removed from active pursuit in the proposed service‑area map.
The Goleta City Council on March 17 authorized staff to submit a sphere‑of‑influence application to the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for two unincorporated areas adjacent to the city: the Glen Annie Golf Course parcels and expanded South Patterson parcels. The council approved staff’s recommendation by a 4–1 roll call vote; Councilmember Kazdin voted no.
Staff explained the proposal updates General Plan figure 2‑4 (Potential City of Goleta service areas) to better align the city’s service‑area map with county rezonings and pending development in the unincorporated areas. Planning staff said the county executive team indicated verbal support for including Glen Annie and South Patterson in a LAFCO application, a helpful factor for LAFCO review.
The council’s authorization instructs staff to prepare and file a sphere‑of‑influence application and to return with materials initiating related general‑plan amendments if the city proceeds. Staff clarified this is a preliminary, long‑term planning step and does not itself rezone land or effect annexation. Annexation, if pursued later, would require separate negotiations with the county on revenue‑sharing, services and other terms; LAFCO approval and property‑owner and county agreements would be required.
Public input on the item was limited at the March 17 hearing; staff acknowledged a letter from counsel representing property owners asking for additional targeted outreach before filing. Council discussion highlighted tradeoffs: if the city will inherit traffic and service impacts from nearby rezoned development, having a city role through annexation may improve coordination; conversely annexation carries long‑term fiscal and service obligations and requires negotiated revenue sharing with the county.
Next steps: staff will draft the LAFCO application and return with a request to initiate general plan amendments and a public outreach plan. The council’s action preserves the city’s option to pursue annexation at a later date but does not itself change jurisdictional control.
