We are deeply concerned by Supervisor Williams's comment regarding our design review committees "running amok." We assume a longtime elected representative of the people of Santa Barbara would have better understanding of and appreciation for the purpose of our boards and commissions, and their dedication to the preservation of our unique architectural heritage. That heritage is cherished by the people of Santa Barbara, and they want it protected.
As professional architects, landscape architects, and planners practicing for many years in Santa Barbara, we have appeared many times before the design review boards, and we have served as design review board members. We have sat on both sides of the table.
There are clear and thoughtfully crafted ordinances and guidelines for the boards and for applicants to follow. When applicants respect and respond to the city ordinances and guidelines, their projects move smoothly and quickly to approval. When an applicant listens to the board's comments and then does not respond to them, the approval process is delayed. Findings of project neighborhood compatibility must be made. Since there is apparent disagreement with some of our elected leaders regarding the roles of our design review boards, our city design review community could use this as an opportunity to listen to critics and work to find common ground with our community leaders around planning the future development of La Cumbre Plaza .