Addison Thompson Voted Back onto Planning Commission

Addison Thompson was voted back onto the City of Santa Barbara Planning Commission after having been abruptly dumped off it two years ago to make way for Deborah Schwartz, who most recently ran for council and lost. Thompson brings to the post firsthand knowledge of having rebuilt his house after the Jesuita Fire, not to mention his prior experience as a commissioner and a test pilot for supersonic military aircraft. But with the absence of Councilmember Randy Rowse — away on an extended boating trip with his family — the council wound up deadlocked 3-to-3 (slow-growth versus smart-growth) on who should fill the second commission vacancy. Stepping down due to term limits are longtime planning commissioners John Jostes and Charmaine Jacobs.