BUELLTON IS OUR TOWN

An Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is a General Plan amendment that gives citizens the right to vote before a city can expand its borders. It ensures that proposals to grow outward are debated in an open forum, rather than in backrooms, after which a city’s voters decide on the size and shape of their community. The final decision rests with the people, not the developers and politicians.
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A UGB changes the burden of responsibility so that proponents of growth must persuade the community as a whole—not just the government officials—that their proposal has merit. The public does not bear the burden of showing why development should not occur—on steep slopes, in floodplains or fire prone areas, on agricultural land or where it will increase traffic congestion or sprawl—which requires a great deal of time and technical expertise to refute biased, government-funded, and developer-supported studies. Instead, advocates of expansion must first show the public why their proposal will be good for the community and how it further goals like those set out in the General Plan.

A UGB ensures that the public will no longer be at a disadvantage, and have to play catch-up, in ongoing, technical hearings on proposals that have already gained considerable momentum, as occurred when Buellton considered expanding its sphere of influence.

By promoting development within the UGB, and discouraging unplanned growth in surrounding areas, a Buellton UBG would

• Encourage efficient municipal infrastructure and services which lowers taxes;

• Enhance Buellton’s small-town character and support downtown businesses at the town’s center;

• Foster investment in stable farming enterprises by preventing urban encroachment and real estate speculation, while preserving the open space, aesthetic, and natural resources for which the Santa Ynez Valley is known.

Yes. Many cities in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley have adopted UGBs. They are now becoming more common in Southern California. In Ventura County, 8 cities have adopted UGBs to curtail urban sprawl Buellton’s UGB would be the first such measure in Santa Barbara County. (See Voter-Created UGBs in California below.)

Yes. Certain types of development such as public schools and parks, would not require a citizens’ vote. In addition, the city council has the authority to adjust the UGB to accommodate affordable housing as required by state law if strict findings are made first.

No. The proposed UGB would be in effect for about 17 years, the life of Buellton’s 2025 General Plan. After that, the voters could renew or adjust the UGB. They can also change the boundary any time at the ballot box.

Yes. Buellton’s city boundary and sphere of influence are currently the same. The UGB would coincide with the city’s current boundary, but the city could still expand its sphere of influence. The UGB means, though, that the City of Buellton could not develop urbanized land uses outside of the UGB in the expanded SOI.

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) has determined that Buellton can accommodate the current growth rate through 2035 within its existing boundaries. This is 5 years after the UGB would expire, allowing plenty of time to plan and prepare for new growth. This is 10 years after the 2025 General Plan and UGB would expire, allowing plenty of time for the city more than adequate time to plan for additional growth.

The initiative process gives people the ability to affect public policy and to enact laws directly. Voter-enacted UGBs are more protective in terms of geographic expansion and population growth than UGBs enacted by city councils. Voter-enacted UGBs are also said to promote more civic pride and public participation in community affairs.

What happens in Buellton—the Gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley—does not stay in Buellton but has far-reaching effects on traffic, business, and qualify of life throughout the Valley. We are one inter-connected community.