Carpinteria City Council to hear first reading of zoning ordinance

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-STAFF STAFF WRITER

The Carpinteria City Council today is expected to approve the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s zoning regulations to establish permanent formula business regulations to protect existing businesses.

The proliferation of formula businesses can have long-term economic consequences for a community, according to staff.

“Low-margin businesses that meet the basic needs of surrounding neighborhoods, such as grocers and pharmacies, may be pushed out as rents rise and the area attracts more formula restaurants and stores,” staff said.

“Perhaps of greatest concern, formula businesses tend to be fair-weather friends and can disappear quickly when the economy contracts or their corporate strategy shifts.

“The risk of formula businesses resulting in a downtown or neighborhood business district losing its distinctive appeal and no longer offering opportunities for independent entrepreneurs could result in loss of customers, fewer business opportunities and a decline in locally-generated tax revenue.”

The council will meet in chambers, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., starting at 5:30 p.m.

In other business, the council is scheduled to evaluate the performance of City Manager Dave Durflinger, who will be retiring at the end of the year, extend the emergency proclamation in response to the January 2023 storms and related emergency response, and adopt a resolution approving the Measure A five-year local program of projects for Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2027-28. The ordinance pertaining to formula businesses would apply to any commercial business operating as a retail sales, restaurant/food service, and/ or hotel or motel establishment which has more than seven locations anywhere in the United States; and has two or more of the following features common to all or substantially all of its locations: standardized array of services or products for sale, facade, architecture, decor or color scheme, uniform or other employee apparel, signage or trademark/servicemark.

The ordinance would not apply to the commercial parcels fronting the portion of Casitas Pass Road from Carpinteria Avenue to Highway 101, including the entirety of Casitas Plaza Shopping Center and the Shepard Place Shops.

Additionally, the ordinance would not apply to office space, professional services, banks or

KELLY, Hope Sterling

Hope Sterling Kelly passed away peacefully in Santa Barbara on January 8, 2023. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to anyone she had ever met.

Hope was born on Groundhog’s Day, February 2, 1929. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended University Elementary School, University High School, UCLA for 2 years, and then transferred to Stanford University, where she graduated in 1950.

Hope married Richard Sawyer (Div in 1965) in 1951 and they soon had their son Richard (1952) and daughter Rebecca Sawyer (1954). They lived in Brentwood where they raised their kids around close family and friends and lived just down the road from her loving parents Ted and Eve Sterling. playing any competitive sport she came across.

She was a lifelong member of the Assistance League and was active in the Nine O’clock players group where she took many leading roles such as “Cinderella”. Her love for travel and adventure lead her to working as a Travel Agent at Bel-Air Travel.

In August of 1970, Hope married Laurence B. Kelly and they moved to Santa Barbara, where they fell in love with the picturesque scenery and community. Hope and Larry were members of the Valley Club and LA Country Club as Larry was an avid amateur golfer. They also belonged to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club where they celebrated many holidays with family and friends.

Hope and Larry were a fun, loving, and adventure-seeking couple who traveled the world to exotic places and always came home with fascinating stories. Their home was always open for entertaining and hosting friends and family at their cottage a.k.a. “Hotel Hope”.

Hope’s positive attitude and radiant spirit were contagious and the second you met her, you felt like a lifelong friend. She was a guiding light, a pillar of support, and someone who you could always count on. Hope was a very involved grandmother and greatgrandmother until the end, attending school events, cheering on her grandkids in their her signature left-handed script.

Hope was very active with The Lobero Associates, raising funds for theater projects and bringing in new members. Because of her involvement, The Lobero Theater stage curtain was named in her honor in 2022 which was a highlight. In the last 20 years of her life, Hope became a competitive Ballroom Dancer with the Santa Barbara Dance Studio, traveling to events throughout California, Nevada, and Hawaii. She loved getting dressed up, learning new routines, and competing in the ballroom.

Hope loved attending church and gained a deeper spiritual understanding of her purpose driven life and attended the quaint Summerland Presbyterian Church.

Hope Kelly was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Kelly (1916 - 2006) and her sister, Jacqueline Sterling Williams (1926 - 2021). Hope is survived by her son, Richard Sawyer (Kathleen Barron), her daughter, Rebecca Conway, her 3 stepdaughters, Pauline Kelly, Pamela Bento, and Patricia Morehart, along with her grandkids, Barron Sawyer (Kerry Sawyer), Holly Misic, Steven Conway (Chelsea Conway), Carolyn Doyle (Christopher Doyle), and Lauren Kerstner (Nick Kerstner) along with 12 greatgrandchildren whom she absolutely adored.

33 E. Canon Perdido St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Arrangements entrusted to Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.

credit unions, grocery stores, nonprofit businesses, pharmacies, gas stations or theaters/ performing arts spaces.

The ordinance does not prohibit the relocation of an existing formula business in operation at a location within the city to another location within the city. Per the recommendation from the Planning Commission, the ordinance would provide an exemption for the transfer of ownership, provided that the operation of the formula business remains substantially the same, and an exception to allow establishment of a formula business, if found to be in the public interest.

Upon approval of the first reading of the ordinance, city staff requests that the council direct staff to submit the draft ordinance to the California Coastal Commission (“CCC”) as a local coastal program.

The CCC will review the contemplated amendments to the city’s zoning regulations to address formula businesses for consistency with the policies of the California Coastal Act and the city’s certified local coastal program.

Upon certification, the ordinance would be returned to the council for acceptance of any modifications required by the CCC and adoption of the ordinance upon a second reading. Depending upon the extent and manner in which the CCC completes the review and certification of the city’s local coastal program, the entire ordinance adoption process could take between four to 18 months. Meanwhile, the current temporary moratorium can remain in place for up to two years (until June 26, 2024), or until the ordinance for the (permanent) formula business regulations takes effect, whichever occurs first. Regulating formula businesses could have an impact on potential city revenues generated from sources, including but not limited to: sales taxes, property taxes (related to new development/ tenant improvements), transient occupancy taxes (for hotel/motel uses), business license taxes and permit fees, staff said. The extent to which such revenues would be impacted is dependent upon the scope and breadth of any regulations on formula businesses, and the degree to which such regulations limit or reduce the establishment of new businesses in the city. Enforcement of formula business regulations would be expected to require a nominal amount of additional staff time. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

KAHLER, Margo Ann AKA “Peggy”

November 25, 1940 - January 29, 2023

Peggy Ann went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 29, 2023 peacefully in her sleep at 12:38 at ‘Comforts of Home Senior Care’. She was born at Abington Hospital in Abington PA. in Montgomery County growing up on Willow Brook Farm, as the only daughter of Margaret H. White and Harry Lewis Kahler PhD. (chemistry) Peggy attended and graduated from Neshaminy High School in 1958 with one of her best friends Diane Hogeland with whom she still talked to every week. Peggy attended Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA and then transferred to Hope College in Holland Michigan where she graduated on schedule in 1962.

Peggy’s family had decided to move to California in 1967 when her father unexpectedly passed away, however, Peggy and her Mother decided to go ahead with the move and Santa Barbara became their forever home. Peggy never wasted any time and went straight to work. She was a 4th grade bilingual teacher at Carpinteria Main Elementary school for 38 years from September 1967 until June 2005. Her organizational skills were unparalleled in everything she owned. She was loved by all for her kindness and compassion for others.

Several of Peggy’s summers were spent in Spain from where she travelled all over Europe and continued to travel worldwide with family and friends.

After her retirement in 2005 she became the librarian for Santa Barbara Christian School for many years until her eyesight became a problem.

Peggy was very active at Trinity Baptist Church as a Deaconess, Oaks Bible Church as a Deaconess, alto in the choir and as ‘decorator’ for every season and potluck at the churches. She attended all the choir programs put on for the Marines at Camp Pendleton and all the Christmas concerts up until 2021 at Oaks Bible Church. She enjoyed Christian music and especially Christmas music since that was her favorite time of the year. Let the decorating begin!

Peggy loved teaching children and for almost 2 decades she volunteered one week a year to Royal Family Kids camp, which is a camp for ‘children at risk’ ages 6-12 years.

Peggy would spend countless hours under the shade of big Oak tree listening to and talking with all the children who wanted to just ‘slow down’ a bit and play games with her. The wisdom imparted under that tree to those children was priceless.

Peggy donated to several charities and missions which demonstrated her loving, generous and kind heart. She loved her cats and Chita was with her to the end. She was also an avid patriot and very proud of our military troops and veterans who fought for “her” country and kept it free. July 4th was always a party for Peggy! More decorating!

Peggy’s passion for teaching children was dwarfed only by her love for Jesus and sharing Him with all she came in contact with.

She is survived by her childhood friends Sue DeCresente and Diane Hogeland, several removed Elizabeth G. Frazee, (Timothy T. Myers) & daughter Avery F. Myers, Jonathon W. Frazee & children Justin R., Cori T., and Caitlin S. Frazee and Stanley S. Frazee & children Lane and Julia Frazee along with her entire Oaks Bible family.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 18, 11:00 am at Oaks Bible Church, located at 400 Puente Dr., Santa Barbara, CA. Reception to follow. or Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP) cat rescue at asapcats.org Arrangements entrusted to Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.

Located for over 20 years at 53 Cass Place in Goleta, this last-minute move is required due to building damage to their offices, which they rent from the Santa Barbara Airport. The organization is estimating the cost of the move and replacing damaged furniture and equipment to total approximately $37,000.

Easy Lift provides wheelchairaccessible transportation for passengers with limited mobility.

“I want to reassure the south coast community that our move will not affect our operations at Easy Lift,” Ernesto Paredes, executive director of Easy Lift, said in a news release.

“We were able to continue providing lifesaving accessible transportation services during the flood through emergency evacuations as well as regular passenger access to medical care and grocery stores. Continuing to provide our services during our move will be easy compared to that.”

Mr. Paredes said he’s grateful to donors and remains proud of the Easy Lift staff.

“I remain continually amazed by the professionalism and compassion of our team,” said Mr. Paredes. “Our drivers and dispatch team have been under a lot of stress. Some live out of town and had a hard time getting to the Santa Barbara area during the flood. Plus, many are dealing with damage to their own homes and vehicles. And because our passengers are also stressed, our drivers stand in to help calm their nerves and reassure them with a friendly smile.”

Even though the move is expensive, and time-consuming, Mr. Paredes said he believes the organization “will be better equipped to take on any and all new transit challenges going forward.” email: kzehnder@newspress.com of water consumed annually by 10 people in an urban environment.