Thursday, February 2, 2012
SCE PLANS TO INSTALL SMART METERS THROUGHOUT ITS CALIFORNIA SERVICE AREA Update - CPUC Approves Opt-Out for PG&E Customers. See the details here.
Wireless smart meters are being installed throughout California to replace existing analog meters. In our area, SCE has plans to replace electrical meters with wireless meters. They collect electrical usage information and transmit it to collector meters located within about a half mile radius. The collector meters transmit the information to SCE. The individual meters also transmit into homes to communicate with “smart” appliances that include wireless communication devices. The system will allow for variable pricing for power use and more detailed monitoring of usage.
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
FIRE STATION PROPOSED TO BETTER SERVE EASTERN MONTECITO
Draft Environmental Impact Report is now available for review: http://www.montecitofire.com/Station_3_Development.htm The Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD) has been working for the last several years to site, design, entitle and build a fire station in the eastern portion of Montecito in an effort to provide improved response times and service. The District has worked with a local property owner and secured an option to purchase a portion of Rancho San Carlos/Petan property in the 2500 block of East Valley Road. Design of the proposed station is currently under way. The District's Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project is now available at the link above. Upon completion of the report, the District will apply to the County of Santa Barbara for the necessary zoning approvals.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON TREE TRIMMING ALONG TRANSMISSION LINES
The Montecito Association received a presentation from representatives of Southern California Edison (SCE) concerning its tree trimming efforts in Montecito. SCE had been invited to address concerns regarding tree trimming practices and their effect on the health and appearance of street trees.
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Monday, November 21, 2011
CALTRANS BEGINS PLANNING FOR THE HIGHWAY 101 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE PROJECT
The Highway 101 HOV Project proposes to add one high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction on US 101 from 0.44 mile south of Carpinteria Creek in the City of Carpinteria to Sycamore Creek in the City of Santa Barbara, a distance of 10.3 miles. Caltrans District 5 is the lead agency for the project and SBCAG is the primary project sponsor. Other project partners are the City of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, and City of Carpinteria. The project is funded with Measure A regional sales tax funds, as well as other state and federal funding sources.
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
MONTECITO YMCA PROPOSES MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT
The Montecito YMCA, located at the corner of Santa Rosa Road and San Ysidro Road has developed plans to remodel and expand their facilities. The proposal includes a 5,400 square foot two-story addition to the main building, a new child care building of 2,723 square feet, a locker room/natatorium building of 5,300 S.F. and an 11,000 S.F. gymnasium. The project will require approval of a revised Conditional Use Permit by the County of Santa Barbara.
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011
MIRAMAR HOTEL PROJECT STALLED
Caruso Affiliated has not moved forward with development of a new resort hotel at the location of the former Miramar Beach Hotel despite securing approvals in April 2009. The developer has pointed to a soft market for resort hotel rooms as the reason they have not proceeded with the project.
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
ARE TREES IN MONTECITO PROTECTED?
Ask anyone in Montecito “What makes our community special?” Most will agree that the greenery found throughout the community – lush landscaping and beautiful mature trees - are an essential component of what makes Montecito special. However, most trees in Montecito are not protected from removal unless the removal is part of a development project or is located within the Coastal Zone of Montecito.
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
COMMERCIAL RENTAL OF PROPERTY FOR EVENTS REQUIRES A PERMIT
Current Montecito zoning requirements allow residents to host charitable and noncommercial functions at their homes as long as the number of persons present does not exceed 300 persons, the owner or tenant receives no remuneration and no more than three charitable functions are held in a year. If property is rented for a temporary event, a conditional use permit is required.
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