I opposed the excessive Fagan Canyon proposal voters rejected. The Adams Canyon proposal emphasizes quality, high-end housing that would bring Santa Paula’s housing mix toward balance with other cities. It calls for approximately one-fifth the number of units that were proposed for Fagan. Adams Canyon is more than twice the size of Fagan Canyon. Adams traffic will not pass through our existing streets. Measure A7 would limit the number of units to about 500 and bring Adams into the city. Details of the specific plan would be approved by the council.

Those opposed to bringing Adams Canyon into the city identify themselves 
as “Santa Paula SOAR.” The original Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources was a democratic, countywide group organized to save agricultural resources and preserve the environment. My wife and I were among its first supporters. We still support these original goals, but something has gone terribly wrong.

Where were the democratic and environmental quality goals when “Santa Paula SOAR” made decisions regarding Fagan and Adams canyons? Have you noticed the slick, expensive mailings from those who now identify themselves as Santa Paula SOAR? Have you wondered who is paying the bill?

What was previously a democratic SOAR now seems dominated by a developer determined to further overload Santa Paula with more low-end housing. We already have the highest percentage of such housing in the county. This developer claims to be “nonprofit.” Nonprofit organizations feed many fat cats. These are the same cats that supported (and still support) dumping 26,000 additional vehicle trips per day out of Fagan onto our existing two-lane streets. Twenty-six thousand 20-foot vehicles lined bumper to bumper would extend from Fagan Canyon to Bakersfield.

We need quality, balance and common sense. Please join me in voting yes on A7.

— Delton Lee Johnson, Santa Paula