Just who appointed Mr. McCalip as czar of development in Santa Barbara County (“Just say no to leapfrog developments,” Jan. 29)? His comments on the proposed La Purisima Resort project at the La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc are inflammatory and misleading. We don’t mind that he has a personal opinion, but when the Santa Maria Sun splashes it all over its opinion page in a “factual” featured article, then it becomes a biased attack on free American private property rights.
We all know that the Sun has a reputation for being a left wing liberal publication.
The proposed project would be great for the county. It is located at an existing private facility golf course and would be a tourist destination generating sales taxes, occupancy tax, and property tax for the cash-strapped county.
The Tularosa housing development near the proposed project has already set the precedent for urban development in that area. The company has every right to develop its land as it sees fit. The assertion that it would be leapfrog development is sheer nonsense and fearmongering.
The reference to Ventura and Los Angeles is typical of the NIMBY no-growther mentality and tactics. More than 70 percent of Santa Barbara County is empty and rural.
The proposed project fits well with the fast-developing winery business along that same Route 246 corridor. The assertion that it would ruin “your quality of life” is also more NIMBY fearmongering. We strongly support the development of this project because the property owners have the right to do so, it fits the urbanization of the area, and it would be beneficial to the county business.
Mr. McCalip caused growth when he came to this area. Should we all have gotten together to stop him from coming here?
This article appears in Feb 5-12, 2009.
