Mayor’s race clouds height battle
In the days leading up to today’s big Santa Barbara City Council vote on whether to place an alternative building heights initiative before voters, councilwoman and mayoral contender Helene Schneider was getting blitzed by advocates on both sides.
For her main mayoral rival Iya Falcone, however, there wasn’t any suspense. Long before today’s meeting, Falcone had already made up her mind.
But Schneider, a mayoral frontrunner, finds herself in an influential and powerful position today; she could be the swing vote that decides whether the city of Santa Barbara places an alternative ballot ordinance to lower building heights before voters this November.
In what is expected to be a dramatic and emotionally intense meeting today, the City Council must decide whether to move forward with a ballot measure that would compete with a more popular resident-backed initiative already on the November ballot.
With two of the people casting votes today in a neck-and-neck race to become the city’s next mayor, politics have become as central to the debate as the issue itself. No matter which way Schneider and Falcone vote, there will be some form of political fallout.
For the mayoral contenders, the calculus is clear: which side can I least afford to offend come November?
On the road to November, whether it’s the building heights initiative, the city’s budget deficit, or how to handle the rise in gang violence, Schneider and Falcone will likely spend the next several months trying to read one another – and vote alike on the big issues – in their high-stakes game of political chess as they compete fiercely for the title of mayor.
“Schneider has to make a really tough decision today,” said Bill Mahan, one of the chief backers of the Save El Pueblo Viejo citizens-backed initiative. Anyone who votes for alternative ordinance, “it is not going to be a feather in their cap.”
Falcone, however, has already publicly expressed her opinion on the matter: she prefers the status quo of a maximum building height of 60 feet.
She doesn’t support an alternative measure, but doesn’t back Save El Pueblo Viejo either. There’s no need, she said, to change the city’s charter.
“I respect the right of Santa Barbara residents to decide for themselves if height limits should be lowered,” Falcone said. “I believe that clear, strong design standards that provide for setbacks and open space is the best way to preserve public views and the small town feel of Santa Barbara. The efforts of Pearl Chase and Claudia Madsen show that we may not need to change the City Charter to protect what is unique and special about Santa Barbara."
As a practical matter, the two initiatives are fairly similar. More than 11,000 people signed a petition in support of the “Save El Pueblo Viejo” initiative, which would lower building heights in the city’s historic El Pueblo Viejo area to 40 feet and to 45 feet in all commercial zones in the city. The current limit is 60 feet.
Even though much of the city’s preservationist community backed the proposal, affordable housing advocates and many developers shunned the initiative, essentially arguing that it would stifle affordable housing projects and tie developers’ hands.
Much of the debate has been sparked by the spurt of bulky and big buildings approved on Chapala Street in recent years.
Largely engineered by councilman Das Williams and backed by councilman Grant House, the city responded by pushing an alternative measure that would adhere to the same restrictions, but include key exemptions.
Developers could build projects higher if the council determines that they meet a “community priority,” include more than 30 percent affordable housing or have rental housing.
Critics of the Save El Pueblo Viejo initiative say the proposal is too extreme.
“It is too simplistic and does not provide exceptions for affordable housing and community priority projects,” said Suzanne Elledge of Suzanne Elledge Planning & Permitting Services.
She noted that buildings such as the Granada Theatre, Cottage Hospital and the Lobero Building could not be built today or rebuilt because of a fire if the Save El Pueblo Viejo initiative goes through.
The alternative initiative, Elledge said, is the wisest choice.
“The council will demonstrate its leadership if it places a better Charter Amendment on the ballot, one that reduces heights and also provides some flexibility for projects that will require it, and upholds our community's commitment to sustainability,” Elledge said.
Mahan, of the Save El Pueblo Viejo initiative, said the mayor and council election will play a huge role today.
“Iya already figured out two months ago that she was not going to be on Das and Grant’s side,” Mahan said. “We have 11,581 signatures, and she knows how to count.”
The answer is less clear cut for Schneider.
In recent days, affordable housing activists, developers and slow-growth preservationist have all been trying to influence Schneider’s vote either through polite advice or outright threats not to support her in her campaign. Schneider said regardless of political consequences, she will do what’s best for Santa Barbara residents.
“My vote will be based on what I believe is in the best interest of the entire community,” Schneider told the Daily Sound. “I cannot ignore the fact that 15 percent of city voters signed a petition to place this height initiative on the ballot, and there is a real perception out there that a city-backed alternative will confuse people.
“I also cannot ignore other comments made about the potential loss of affordable housing and sustainable design. There are strong points on both sides, and I hope we can have a vibrant, comprehensive and clear debate on the issues.”
Comment on this article
HELLO!?? : 3/24/2009
Question for candidates: What is more important to you, building heights or blood in the streets? From the current state of the City in terms of public safety, on the watch of these clowns, the answer is obvious! No Council Clowns for Mayor!!
Sick of it : 3/24/2009
At least we know where two of the candidates stand on "solving" the gang problem - right where they are, which is no where. They apparently are quite satisfied with the way things are. They think that they have done all that they can do and that is quite enough. We have had two years for their philosophy of throwing money at teens to keep them entertained to take effect and the problem has only escalated. Because "at risk" youth are not the ones causing the trouble. It is felons and drug traders and parolees who are not even in school and have no interest in these "programs" the City is so find of. Do we want more of the same or do we want to give someone else a crack at it?
"dramatic and emotionally intense" : 3/24/2009
Molina is piling on the schmaltz a bit heavy here. It is really so simple: If Suzanne Elledge of Suzanne Elledge Planning & Permitting Services is for it, then I am against it. This is all about the money from bigger buildings. The land acquisition cost for a 10 foot building is the same as for a 60 foot high building, so the savings goes to the building industry and their tools, including Elledge and their friends. That especially includes Iya Falcone, who likes big buildings but also no affordability requirements. Helene Schneider is the slow growther here. And no one ever cares what Justin Michael Slatkin thinks about this.
Channeling for Pearl
Confused : 3/24/2009
"She noted that buildings such as the Granada Theatre, Cottage Hospital and the Lobero Building could not be built today or rebuilt because of a fire if the Save El Pueblo Viejo initiative goes through." every hear of grandfather clauses? is this even true? or just another atempt from the pro-big building crowed to confuse voters?
Confused : 3/24/2009 : 3/24/2009
to clarify: i'm referring to her claim that these buildings could not be rebuilt in the instance of fire or other natural disaster.
Drama Queen Josh Molina strikes again : 3/24/2009
Why does he have to turn every issue or Council item into a manufactured battle between Iya and Helene. Can he not just report the news?
Weary already
Helene vs. Iya : 3/24/2009
Josh just does the reporting. Helene and Iya create the battles. Don't kill the messenger. Vote for me and you wont have to deal with the childish politics of Helene and Iya!
JMike!
Lose Lose : 3/24/2009
What is important about this race is who will have the leadership to do the right thing. I’m not a fan of Iya’s but at least she has a viewpoint, isn’t afraid to voice it and is willing to tell the voters what it is. Bill Mahan, the arch nemesis of his own profession, may not like her view and may prefer a politician more like what we always get, pandering to the loudest squeaky wheel, but I’m not sure if Helene will be that easy to wiggle. Certainly if she does as Josh describes and looks for whatever is the advantage come November you will get more of the same. As far as the height limits go, they are the worst thing to happen in a long line of bad things including the first round of limits. It is one thing to want some measure of control over how the city develops, no one can argue that. But these height limits are like trying to control weeds in your garden with a freaking bulldozer. Why on earth would anyone, particularly Bill Mahan, want to squash everything flat? Do the people who signed this ridiculous petition realize that the size of buildings will grow bigger as a result of lopping off 15 feet? Imagine the now infamous Chapala One covering half a city block instead of a quarter. Does anyone really believe that making it 15 feet shorter is going to reduce the enormous visual impact of a little shorter but much bigger footprint? Building height limits have unintended consequences and sprawling low rise buildings are one of them. Need some sort of visual confirmation? Look at what the current limits required Cottage hospital’s seismic upgrade to turn into. One plan called for a single 8 story building covering one block (a central 8 story tower surrounded by shorter 3 and 4 story wings) while what we got is a massive 2 block long 3 story sprawling building. Unfreaking believable! The enormity in cost in having to buy up so much real estate to accommodate this irrational fear of heights. Not to mention that the low rise 3 story version blocks your view just the same only now over two block instead of one. This is shear madness. It is the epitome of lunatics running the asylum. Further we keep hearing the rational for imposing these limits is to “preserve” Santa Barbara’s small town charm. Oh really? Where is that charm? Is where the 14 year old got stabbed? Is it where the smell of urine and alcohol from the panhandling crowd out at the library lawn? How about that small town charming traffic quagmire artificially induced by the car hating Nazis at city hall? No wait it’s the small town charm of a self centered population of jack asses shouting “I’m in! I’m in! Now close the gate, that’s enough!” Oh, you mean small town charm in the stick and stucco Disneyland style of pretend-ville, right? Sorry I just don’t see it. It’s a big lie and a myth and no matter how short you make buildings you will never create small town charm that way. Besides, this city has never been small even when it had 3.5 times fewer people and built most of its tallest buildings.
AN50
The RIght Vote : 3/24/2009
It was the right thing to do to vote against that alternative. It was a bunch of confusing nonsense. It required an EIR and 2 more city council votes down the line (1 after the election). If the city wanted to have a height limit ordinance on this ballot they could have gotten started on it almost a year ago. Dale is right. This rush, rush, rush was no good for anyone. If people want to vote up or down they can do it. There’s plenty of time to pass additional ordinances or put other measures on the ballot in the future. This alternative was just a way to defeat the hard work of the citizen initiative.
Not a good alternative : 3/24/2009
Affordable housing projects are a community benefit. Inclusionary projects like Chapala 1 (with only 30% affordable) are not. That's what the alt allowed. What a sham. I'm glad Helene voted against it.
JMike - Please GO AWAY : 3/25/2009
Notice how JMike weighs in on the subject - no position, no ideas, and probably no brains. How much longer are we going to have to put up with this clown popping up and posting what amount to free (but annoying) political ads on the Daily Sound, the Independent, Edhat and other local websites? Pathetic to watch this obsequious clown thank the media for what he regards as favorable coverage of his pathetic candidacy. When will this obnoxious, self-promoting fool stop abusing these websites - and the citizens of this town - and just GO AWAY! Not soon enough for me.
Dump JMike - asap
Justin Michael Slatkin Supporters : 4/13/2009
The boy grew up here. He understands what Santa Barbara needs. Do you?
God Card
No Mudslinging : 4/13/2009
Clearly JMIKE! was impersonated below. I know him well. He does not intend to mudsling. He's been impersonated. He supports Iya and Helene. Recently, the Daily Sound was referred to as the National Enquirer of Santa Barbara. Very few take this paper seriously locally. Hopefully the young owner will start to shed positive light on the issues of all the campaigns. The people are ferociously tired of his Wendy McCawesque editorializing. He's much like Hearst.
Citizn Kane
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