WE Watch is an environmental watch-dog group in the Santa Ynez Valley, formerly known as Women’s Environmental Watch. The organization was founded in the early 1990s to help develop the Valley-wide Community Plan. Now members of both genders work to promote the sustainability of the Santa Ynez Valley, its natural beauty, and agricultural way of life.
Because of its commitment to the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan, which was incorporated into the County General Plan by the Board of Supervisors on October 6, 2009, WE Watch has opposed the development of the 1,400 acres known as Camp 4 in anything other than the 100-acre minimum lots specified in its agricultural zoning. A similar development proposed by Fess Parker, the former owner, was turned down.
We understand the Chumash Tribe’s need to build houses for its current 143 members, and we are willing to support a modification of the General Plan in order to accommodate this housing and a new tribal center, but we believe that all available parcels should be considered, including the 350-acre triangle property adjoining the town of Santa Ynez, that the Chumash already own. The last thing we want is leapfrog development.