THE OAKTOBER SURPRISE
The Environmental Law attorneys representing CAMP– Community Association for Modoc Preserve has sent the County of Santa Barbara a 16 page (not counting exhibits) comment letter on the revised MND.
Top notch CEQA attorneys don’t come cheap (please donate to Modoc Preserve Legal Defense Fund)…but, CAMP’s 16 page legal response to the revised MND (excluding exhibits) is a piece of work…
It points out numerous inaccuracies…discrepancies, deficiencies, obfuscations, omissions…etc…several individual elements, like the incredibly invisible native oak trees (Hocus Pocus...POOF!) discussed in the link, stand on their own to highlight that the revised MND fails as an informational document…but, taken in totality, no reasonable person versed in CEQA law would ever consider approving the revised MND…
We didn’t even have to point out the noticing failure of the initial draft MND back in May…and, their redux done correctly in September…which was obvious to everyone in the affected neighborhoods bordering the Modoc Preserve, no matter which side of the issue you were on…”fair argument” box checked…;-)
Since the full complement of oaks trees subject to removal were not identified or addressed in the MND, the MND fails as an informational document. Moreover, the MND fails to provide mitigation measures for the oak trees that would be removed under Alignment A. For these reasons alone the MND should be rejected.
The County staff has recommended that Alignment B be approved.
CAMP opposes both Alignment A and Alignment B as set forth in the Revised MND dated September 8, 2022, and requests that the Board of Supervisors place the entire Multi-Use Path up onto Modoc Road "Greenbelt Alignment" or let the ATP grant expire so that these funds can be used where they are most needed to increase bike safety in Santa Barbara County.
Your MND comments should be sent to the following before October 14, 2022 by 5PM:
Morgan Jones (SB County Public Works)
Your comments can also be sent to the following Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors who will be having a meeting to decide the fate of these trees on November 1, 2022...
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors:
1.) Das Williams
SupervisorWilliams@countyofsb.org
2.)Gregg Hart
3.) Joan Hartmann
4.)Bob Nelson
5.) Steve Lavagnino
steve.lavagnino@countyofsb.org
2nd District Candidate Laura Capps
We thank you all for your support...all over 4100 of you!
BIG THANKS!!!!
Less than 900 more supporters to get to 5000...keep spreading the word!