Little Opposition to Big Measure

When City of Goleta residents cast ballots on Tuesday, they’ll be voting on one of the most powerful slow-growth referendums in state history: Measure G, which, if passed, will require developers interested in building upon any of the city’s six largest agriculturally zoned parcels to wade through the pricey planning process; get all of the required board, commission, and council votes; and then take the idea back to the ballot box for final approval by the people. But despite the likelihood that the initiative’s approval would almost certainly stop those six properties from being developed for the next 20 years ​— ​which is the measure’s time limit ​— ​there has been almost no organized and funded opposition, which comes as a shock to many involved.

“We had braced ourselves for that negative series of actions by chamber-of-commerce types,” said the measure’s coauthor Robert Wignot, who expected that the same coalition of developers, pro-business interests, and affordable-housing advocates might come together to fund a counter campaign. “We were a little surprised that we didn’t see the severe opposition that we might.”

Those opposed to the measure are also surprised, including former councilmember and Santa Barbara Airbus owner Eric Onnen, who’s worried that the public understanding of the measure is very limited due to the lack of a counterpoint. “Perhaps this has little or no effect even if it does pass,” said Onnen as one possible reason, explaining that it’s very hard to convert ag land anyway. “The General Plan and the community position pretty much makes it very, very difficult, at best unlikely,” said Onnen. “There’s no movement toward converting these properties anyway.”