The Board of Supervisors has officially rejected the restrictive size limitations on our hoop structures. This outcome secures a viable future for our local farmers who rely on these tools to cultivate their crops responsibly. I am deeply appreciative of your commitment to preserving the agricultural character of our valley …
May 8, 2019
Final supporters
February 20, 2019
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
c/o Planning and Development, Hearing Support
123 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
RE: Hoop Structures Ordinance Amendment
County Board of Supervisors Hearing on March 12, 2019
Dear Supervisors:
We are collectively writing to you regarding the proposed Hoop Structure Ordinance Amendment. Hoop and shade structures are an important tool for the cultivation of specialty crops in Santa Barbara County, particularly berries and more recently, cannabis.
Hoop houses offer numerous benefits to the environment, the community, and to farmers by:
• Reducing water use;
• Extending the growing season for frost-sensitive crops;
• Protecting crops from inclement weather;
• Protecting crops from toxic overspray from neighboring farms;
• Reducing the presence of mold; and
• Decreasing the use of pesticides by providing a barrier to insects.
We are extremely concerned about the Planning Commission’s proposed changes to the Hoop Structure Ordinance Amendment, namely reincorporating the 4,000 square foot size limitation on all hoop and shade structures located within the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan Design Control Overlay. A 4,000 square foot limit (1/10th of an acre) is essentially a prohibition, as no commercial farmer, cannabis cultivator or otherwise, would ever reap any benefit from such a small cultivated area.
There are approximately 290 agriculturally zoned parcels located within the Design Control Overlay in the Santa Ynez Valley, comprising approximately 8,311 acres. Effectively prohibiting the use of hoop and shade structures on over 8,000 acres of agriculturally zoned prime farmland in the Santa Ynez Valley is unprecedented, and if implemented, will result in undue hardship on numerous cultivators in the Valley.
The proposed permit path for landowners within the Design Overlay, a Development Plan and compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is not an option for cannabis farmers who have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars applying for local County land use permits and complying with numerous state regulations. Obtaining a Development Plan is not appropriate for a temporary farm accessary, and will result in an additional yearlong delay. CEQA has already been completed via the County’s PEIR. Requiring additional compliance amounts to double jeopardy.
By placing visual benefits and impacts over and above the vitality and feasibility of agricultural businesses, the Commission is placing a heavy burden on the shoulders of those of us who have chosen to grow berries and cannabis, invest in Santa Barbara County (or ancillary cannabis businesses), comply with the numerous regulations, and pay our taxes. There is no question that this amendment would severely restrict the freedom of growers and the burgeoning cannabis industry, and, for some of us, limiting hoop houses to 4,000 square feet per lot or requiring a Final Development Plan before installing hoops, would destroy our business entirely.
Given the profound impacts this regulation will have on the County’s agricultural industry, we believe that the Commission should reject the onerous restrictions on hoops within the Design Overlay, and instead exempt from permitting all hoops and shade structures in the County that are under 20 feet in height and comply with the development standards (no lighting, no permanent footings, compliance with setbacks, etc.).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 7, 2019
March 6, 2019
The feedback from local growers confirms that these proposed size limits would fundamentally alter the landscape of our agricultural community. I am currently spending my time documenting these personal accounts to present to the Board of Supervisors before the upcoming hearing.
March 2, 2019
Reaching one hundred signatures highlights the urgent need for a more reasonable approach to how we manage our local agricultural spaces. It is encouraging to see this many people recognize that these structures are essential tools for responsible farming in our valley.
Reached 100 supporters
March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019
Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a clear signal to the Board of Supervisors that our agricultural community remains united on this issue. Please consider sending this link to someone who values the preservation of local farming practices. A milestone like this demonstrates that the proposed ordinance requires much deeper consideration.
76 Comments
Hoophouses are vital to what I do. As someone who has gone through the land use permitting face I couldn’t possibly wait long enough to do the development plan especially since i need to be able to plant this spring. Das williams specifically stated he would vote against any rules that make it more difficult to come into compliance. Will this is one of them.
We grow organic produce at Tutti Frutti Farms and depend on hoop houses from frost protection and from spray drift from nearby conventional farms and vineyards! We have been using them for many years and wouldn’t be able to keep up what we are doing now without them.
Please rethink this ordinance as it will put a lot of farmers in a hard spot, after already jumping through many hoops(pun intended) and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on local requirements. Thank you.
Hoops should continue to be exempt from permits as they fit size limitations already in place. Supporting SB County's specialty agricultural crops including berries and Cannabis should be of importance. Respectfully, Todd Mitchell
Farmers grow plants. Cannabis is a plant. It's also already the most regulated crop in the world. Continued regulatory pressure on these farmers risks sinking agriculture and opening the door to far less appealing uses of private lands. Stop treating cannabis plants and the farmers of them like a blight and some societal pariah.
The versatility of the structure itself and the overall cost make cannabis farming feasible for many small local farmers. Having to install mandated greenhouse structures require additional costs that are not realistic. Cannabis farmers are being punished for participating in a legal cultivation. For example, having to install $100k plus greenhouse structure versus $7,000 hoop house is a big deal to any new business especially when you consider that a cannabis farm cannot secure loans from banks thus far. The light bulb use is similar to what you’d find in a patio at many existing homes and businesses throughout the County. Even the bulk of the cannabis approved zoning does not have the physically topography to support a rigid, immovable structure. By banning hoop houses, you’d essentially be banning 75+ percent of potential tax revenue from farms that will otherwise not participate in the programs. Help these businesses launch as a partner, not a prohibiter.
Please do not require permits for hoops they are not permenant structures.
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The Board of Supervisors has officially rejected the restrictive size limitations on our hoop structures. This outcome secures a viable future for our local farmers who rely on these tools to cultivate their crops responsibly. I am deeply appreciative of your commitment to preserving the agricultural character of our valley …
May 8, 2019
Final supporters
February 20, 2019
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
c/o Planning and Development, Hearing Support
123 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
RE: Hoop Structures Ordinance Amendment
County Board of Supervisors Hearing on March 12, 2019
Dear Supervisors:
We are collectively writing to you regarding the proposed Hoop Structure Ordinance Amendment. Hoop and shade structures are an important tool for the cultivation of specialty crops in Santa Barbara County, particularly berries and more recently, cannabis.
Hoop houses offer numerous benefits to the environment, the community, and to farmers by:
• Reducing water use;
• Extending the growing season for frost-sensitive crops;
• Protecting crops from inclement weather;
• Protecting crops from toxic overspray from neighboring farms;
• Reducing the presence of mold; and
• Decreasing the use of pesticides by providing a barrier to insects.
We are extremely concerned about the Planning Commission’s proposed changes to the Hoop Structure Ordinance Amendment, namely reincorporating the 4,000 square foot size limitation on all hoop and shade structures located within the Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan Design Control Overlay. A 4,000 square foot limit (1/10th of an acre) is essentially a prohibition, as no commercial farmer, cannabis cultivator or otherwise, would ever reap any benefit from such a small cultivated area.
There are approximately 290 agriculturally zoned parcels located within the Design Control Overlay in the Santa Ynez Valley, comprising approximately 8,311 acres. Effectively prohibiting the use of hoop and shade structures on over 8,000 acres of agriculturally zoned prime farmland in the Santa Ynez Valley is unprecedented, and if implemented, will result in undue hardship on numerous cultivators in the Valley.
The proposed permit path for landowners within the Design Overlay, a Development Plan and compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is not an option for cannabis farmers who have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars applying for local County land use permits and complying with numerous state regulations. Obtaining a Development Plan is not appropriate for a temporary farm accessary, and will result in an additional yearlong delay. CEQA has already been completed via the County’s PEIR. Requiring additional compliance amounts to double jeopardy.
By placing visual benefits and impacts over and above the vitality and feasibility of agricultural businesses, the Commission is placing a heavy burden on the shoulders of those of us who have chosen to grow berries and cannabis, invest in Santa Barbara County (or ancillary cannabis businesses), comply with the numerous regulations, and pay our taxes. There is no question that this amendment would severely restrict the freedom of growers and the burgeoning cannabis industry, and, for some of us, limiting hoop houses to 4,000 square feet per lot or requiring a Final Development Plan before installing hoops, would destroy our business entirely.
Given the profound impacts this regulation will have on the County’s agricultural industry, we believe that the Commission should reject the onerous restrictions on hoops within the Design Overlay, and instead exempt from permitting all hoops and shade structures in the County that are under 20 feet in height and comply with the development standards (no lighting, no permanent footings, compliance with setbacks, etc.).
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 7, 2019
March 6, 2019
The feedback from local growers confirms that these proposed size limits would fundamentally alter the landscape of our agricultural community. I am currently spending my time documenting these personal accounts to present to the Board of Supervisors before the upcoming hearing.
March 2, 2019
Reaching one hundred signatures highlights the urgent need for a more reasonable approach to how we manage our local agricultural spaces. It is encouraging to see this many people recognize that these structures are essential tools for responsible farming in our valley.
Reached 100 supporters
March 1, 2019
March 1, 2019
Reaching one hundred signatures will provide a clear signal to the Board of Supervisors that our agricultural community remains united on this issue. Please consider sending this link to someone who values the preservation of local farming practices. A milestone like this demonstrates that the proposed ordinance requires much deeper consideration.
76 Comments
Please don’t take away hoop houses as they are very essential in saving water , helps by covering the crop from pesticides and debree .
Hoophouses are vital to what I do. As someone who has gone through the land use permitting face I couldn’t possibly wait long enough to do the development plan especially since i need to be able to plant this spring. Das williams specifically stated he would vote against any rules that make it more difficult to come into compliance. Will this is one of them.
We grow organic produce at Tutti Frutti Farms and depend on hoop houses from frost protection and from spray drift from nearby conventional farms and vineyards! We have been using them for many years and wouldn’t be able to keep up what we are doing now without them.
Please rethink this ordinance as it will put a lot of farmers in a hard spot, after already jumping through many hoops(pun intended) and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on local requirements. Thank you.
Hoops should continue to be exempt from permits as they fit size limitations already in place. Supporting SB County's specialty agricultural crops including berries and Cannabis should be of importance. Respectfully, Todd Mitchell
Farmers grow plants. Cannabis is a plant. It's also already the most regulated crop in the world. Continued regulatory pressure on these farmers risks sinking agriculture and opening the door to far less appealing uses of private lands. Stop treating cannabis plants and the farmers of them like a blight and some societal pariah.
The versatility of the structure itself and the overall cost make cannabis farming feasible for many small local farmers. Having to install mandated greenhouse structures require additional costs that are not realistic. Cannabis farmers are being punished for participating in a legal cultivation. For example, having to install $100k plus greenhouse structure versus $7,000 hoop house is a big deal to any new business especially when you consider that a cannabis farm cannot secure loans from banks thus far. The light bulb use is similar to what you’d find in a patio at many existing homes and businesses throughout the County. Even the bulk of the cannabis approved zoning does not have the physically topography to support a rigid, immovable structure. By banning hoop houses, you’d essentially be banning 75+ percent of potential tax revenue from farms that will otherwise not participate in the programs. Help these businesses launch as a partner, not a prohibiter.
Please do not require permits for hoops they are not permenant structures.
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Please don’t take away hoop houses as they are very essential in saving water , helps by covering the crop from pesticides and debree .