Is Goleta in Good Hands with Allstate?
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1 Is Goleta in good hands with Allstate? by the planning commission. The rezoning It appears unlikely that accelerated category o f clerk-typist, usually regarded as Weak opposition request will be on the commission agenda growth in the valley could be stopped if a second source o f income for a family. next Wednesday. the Allstate proposal is approved. Approval o f Allstate’s rezoning proposal appears likely to most involved since the Allstate urged the county to adopt PI “ The placing o f an industry that far majority o f those who addressed the zoning for their site since it will give the from other commerical industries creates commission at the General Plan hearing spurs growth county development rights to the its own demand for more development in supported the project while only three remaining 2/3 o f the parcel the company the area,” charged Santa Barbara Planning citizens opposed it — to the surprise o f By TOM CREAR and DAN HENTSCHKE plans to keep as open space. “ Allstate Commissioner Robert C. Lilley. When Allstate Insurance Company first wants no more commercial use in the some commission members. area,” maintained Arthur Henzell, "RUNNING AWAY" announced its plans earlier this year to ENVIRONMENTALISTS MISSING locate a regional office in the Goleta Valley attorney for the firm. “ Allstate, like other similar industries most people paid little attention. As plans “ Usually at a hearing o f this nature the SITE SELECTION are running away from the cities,” claimed for the entry o f this “ smokeless” industry room is packed with environmentalists,” Pumfrey. “ I’ m disappointed that they into the valley near completion, important This site was selected by Allstate, quipped L ille y . “ O f all the haven’t shown more social responsibility.” issues o f future land use and development Henzell explained, “ because the Goleta environmentalists in the area, damn few Proponents o f the Allstate proposal have are becoming salient. Valley is where the labor market is and appeard.” Lilley explained that because o f not dealt with the development question as Allstate proposes to complete its $5 because o f its proximity to motels.” He the type o f development proposed, he a major issue but emphasized the million headquarters in about three years if noted that the company would have many expected to see staunch opposition by possibility o f a boon to area employment if plans are approved, but the site upon out-of-county people coming to the office local environmental groups. Allstate is located in the Valley. which the complex will be located is on business. One o f the three speakers present at the O f the 500 employees planned for the drawing criticism. “ The company didn’t want to be located hearing speaking against the project also in an industrial area or commerical district regional office, estimates are that 65 to 75 was disappointed by the poor turnout. “ I LOCATION because it wanted a park-like atmosphere per cent o f the new jobs will be filled by viewed the issue as similar in importance to local persons. “ When completed, Allstate The 25 acre parcel o f property is for its building,” Henzell continued. the El Capitan measure last year,” declared will be one o f the largest employers on the opposite the Timbers Restaurant at the Other reasons for preferring the present Leslie Baird representing the I.V. south coast,” Henzell said. intersection o f Highway 101 and site include the highway frontage it will association at the hearing. M ichael Morisoli, 3rd district Winchester Canyon Road. A contract for give Allstate which “ is desirable The El Capitan proposal concerned supervisorial candidate and recently purchase o f the property has been considering the type o f business Allstate is extensive residential development for the resigned Goleta Chamber o f Commerce negotiated by Allstate but before in,” Henzell remarked. Opponents contend El Capitan ranch north o f the Goleta area. president, stated at the public forum that construction can begin a General Plan that Allstate was able to purchase the The proposal, by real estate developer Jules Allstate was needed “ to help take up the amendment and a rezoning ordinance must property for much less money because it Berman, won approval by the Board o f slack caused by the downturn in local be approved by the county. The land was originally zoned residential rather than Supervisors before it was defeated in a research and development jobs.” currently is zoned for single family commerical. For this and other reasons, the referendum last year. The local Human Resources residents (8R10). Allstate seeks a change to requested zoning change has become a Similarly, according to Mark McGinnes, Development Office echoed that sentiment professional and institutional (PI) zoning. contended issue. local environmental attorney, the only way in a recent letter to the Santa Barbara Enter controversy. to defeat the proposal, if it is approved by News-Press. Opponents o f the rezoning proposal the Board o f Supervisors would be a voter Opponents, however, maintain that the argue that Allstate should have chosen the PUBLIC FORUM referendum since the proposal requires a majority o f new jobs will be in the general site for their office within the existing To further bolster their position, rezoning ordinance. zones designated for their needs. Locating Allstate, at a Public Forum on the proposal on property zoned for commercial use last February, cited comparative studies on would have forced Allstate to build their traffic and required services and if the 25 office in Goleta or Santa Barbara. acres are developed for residential purposes instead o f for Allstate. LEAP-FROG GROWTH Britt Johnson, county planning director, “ Furthermore, the rezoning request, if said at the forum that if the parcel were granted, has the potential o f creating a fully developed with multi-bedroom precedent that might lead to a ‘leap-frog’ apartments, he estimated 48,000 more growth in the Valley,” asserted Ross gallons o f water a day would be required; Pumfrey, I.V. Service Center director. 72,000 gallons o f water more for sewage Pumfrey spoke against the project at a purposes; and there would be an additional recent County Planning Commission 1,400 to 2,000 trips a day in and out o f hearing. the area. “ Leap-frog growth pattern” refers to Opponents at the forum did not urban sprawl type o f growth. The San question the studies but queried the need Fernando Valley is a prime example of for development at all. The overriding such development. issue, they feel, is the effects the project Allstate last week hurdled its second will have on future development in the obstacle to final approval when the County west end o f the valley. Planning Commission approved a General “ We are opposed to any haphazard Plan amendment which included the development in the county which might be zoning designation Allstate has requested. injurious in the future,” commented Fred The next step for the company will be Eissler, area resident and member o f the PICTURE ON THIS SITE a $5 million Allstate complex, built in "campus architectural procuring passage o f the rezoning proposal Sierra Club. fashion..." PA G E 2 U CSB D A IL Y N EX U S FRIDAY, APRIL 7,1972 New membership in the Undergraduate Sociology Union is desperately I.V. D o p e Justice?? needed to keep this organization alive. All undergraduates in the Sociology department are strongly urged to attend the meeting on April Men from behind the wall will 10t in Ellison 2829, at 4 p.m. If this group is allowed to die through lack of student support, any chance at effective action oh the part of the confront those who administer students is feared to be in jeopardy. the judicial system this Sunday 2-5 p.m. during a public meeting entitled “ Incarceration: Rehabilitation or Warehousing?” at the University Club, 1332 Santa Barbara Street. Attempting to determine if correctional facilities really correct, will be panelists Santa Barbara Municipal Court Judge Joseph Lodge; former inmate at Folsom, Tracy, and Soledad Prisons, Ken Cameron; Santa Barbara District Attorney David Minier; Parole Officer Michael Wolgast, Senior Case Worker at Lompoc Prison Ron Hendricks, and inmate Morgan McDonald. The UCSB Alumni Association will sponsor the program. photo: Melinda Finn Lectures POLITICS ARE ALIVE in Isla Vista...A political forum has been The Centro de Chicano Studies scheduled for April 12 at I.V. School at 7:45 p.m. to introduce opens its Spring Quarter lecture candidates for the third supervisorial district which is presently held by series today with a visit by Supervisor Dan Grant. Candidates Richard Duprey, Lyn McClurg, Enrique P. Lopez — attorney, Michael Morisoli, James Slater and Jim Worthen will all be present writer, lecturer and actor. The with Sociology Professor Donald Cressey serving as moderator... lecture is open to the public, at Vital to Democratic politics is the voting process. In addition to no charge, at 2 p.m. in 1015 numerous voter registration tables which are already up, there will be Physics. A Harvard Law School one posted in front o f Taco Bell everyday until the April 13 deadline... graduate, Lopez practiced in Los Also along the political line is the party opening tonight o f Ken Angeles and Mexico before Palmer’s Isla Vista headquarters at 6525 Pardall at 7 p.m. Democratic turning to free-lance writing. Assembly candidate Palmer will be there to answer questions and to His credits include “ My hear Isla Vista concerns. Brother Lyndon” by Sam SPEAKING QF PARTIES..