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Introduction
Among local government’s most important functions are protecting the quality of life and public safety for all of its citizens while assisting in the creation of economic opportunity. In the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County, a single special interest is seeking the ability to build massive commercial and residential development on a large parcel of agricultural land it owns on a scale never before seen in this area.
Potential development of this magnitude threatens property values, the economic viability of the surrounding area and will create a tax burden on all County citizens. An additional impact includes the potential depletion of existing drinking water shortages resulting from potentially unprecedented demand.
