The Latest on the Effort to Buy San Marcos Foothills Land

••• From a press release on Edhat: “Foothills Forever, the campaign to purchase the West Mesa of the San Marcos Foothills, has announced that they have met all interim milestones and are in the home stretch to finish the campaign on June 1. Foothills Forever has been joined in their efforts by a national conservation organization,”” the Allemall Foundation. “Over 3,500 individuals, businesses, and foundations have contributed more than $7.6 million in cash and pledges to date, plus a short-term loan from Montecito Bank & Trust, to meet the terms of the purchase agreement. An additional $12.4 million is needed before the June 1 deadline.”

••• “The California State Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill to make stop signs advisory for bicyclists and no longer mandatory. If this bill is eventually passed into law, California will become the fifth state to do so.” —Independent

••• Another press release on Edhat: “The City of Santa Barbara will be reopening the 00 block of West Victoria Street in Downtown with one eastbound traffic lane in mid-May. […] The partial reopening is scheduled for the second week in May. The expanded outdoor dining uses on the 00 block of West Victoria will remain in operation with the one-way eastbound traffic lane traversing through the block. In addition, the  new landscaped planters, k-rail barriers, and signage will be strategically placed through the block to facilitate the one-way configuration. The eastbound traffic lane through the 00 block of West Victoria Street will not affect the traffic controls on State Street that are currently in place.”

••• “Gas station mogul and developer John Price plans to a build a gas station at [370 Storke Road at Hollister Avenue, in the former Zizzo’s Coffee space], and he expects to break ground in about 90 days. Price, who owns 14 gas stations, including Fuel Depot, Shell and Fairview gas brands, plans to build and open a Fuel Depot at the site.” —Noozhawk

••• “The electric shuttles serving the City of Santa Barbara’s downtown and waterfront might not make a post-pandemic comeback.” —Independent

••• “The Summerland-based White Buffalo Land Trust just purchased the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch for $6 million, with plans to turn the property into a center for regenerative agriculture. Located on Jalama Road close to Highway 1, about eight miles north of Point Conception and a 10-minute drive south of Lompoc, the ranch was best known for years as an event venue.” (From Wikipedia: “Regenerative agriculture is a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. It focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting biosequestration, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil.”) —Independent

················

Never miss a post: sign up for the Siteline email newsletter.

Comment: