In April, we will be asked to annex thousands of acres in Adams Canyon in favor of a developer who is seeking to donate 40 acres for a school site. In exchange, the developer and owners will develop at least 495 luxury homes and a few other amenities. The language being used in the proposal does not guarantee that the number would never go higher, as it did when we voted for Fagan Canyon in 2000.
Residents were seriously misled when we approved the Fagan development after a promise that only 400 homes would ever be built. The City Council members sold our vote in favor of five times as many new homes, increasing the traffic impact by 500 percent.
How do we know for sure that the developer in Adams Canyon is not trying to lie to us for our vote in the same manner? How do we know that the developer is not only trying to get the land annexed to the city, but then will turn around and say they will build 3,000 homes instead? Who knows if the City Council won’t sell our city to the developers once again and betray the city residents once again?
How do we know that the developer will keep its promise, even when it is not in writing?
I am also concerned that Limoneira is trying to build another 1,700-plus homes on the east end, in exchange for another 40-acre school site. Is only one new school enough to cover new kids from kindergarten to high school from those extra 1,700-plus homes? Or will they overcrowd our burdened school district?
I’m sorry, but my vote requires more than 40 acres for one school. The developers must insure that they put everything they promise in writing. They must do more than give some empty land and ask the city residents to pay for a school they will need the most.
Help me defeat this promise that is not in writing. Vote no on Measure Y until they put it in legal writing.
— Gabriel Guillen, Santa Paula
With people being pushed out of the coast from high housing costs, you'd think a place like Santa Paula so close to the ocean but with such perfect weather could get better terms from developers.
Perhaps I'm naive but I paid an arm and a leg a couple of years back to move to Santa Paula as is. I love the rich mix of hispanic and anglo. I love the samll town. I love all the agriculture about us. I love all the friendly folks about the place.
It seems to me that if someone wants to build here, they ought bring something to offer that would actually improve things instead of taxing the current assets we already have.
Ask not what Santa Paula can do for you but what you can do for Santa Paula.
Thanks to Santa Paula for at least considering things. Please consider carefully. We have to live with it.
Jim Beam, Santa Paula