A scoping meeting for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on proposed changes to Highway 217 took place on Thursday, January 16 from noon–2pm at the UCEN.

About 80 members of the UCSB community attended the meeting and about 15 spoke on a broad spectrum of issues. All comments were tape-recorded, and the City of Goleta now has a legal burden to consider and address those comments when elements of the EIR on proposed changes to the 217 are planned.

Several representatives of the planning staff from the City of Goleta attended, as did Councilmember Margaret Connell. Two Caltrans representatives were present as well.

Our thanks to the many students, staff, and faculty who took time out to attend the Jan. 16 meeting.

For anyone who missed the Jan. 16 meeting, there will be two more scoping hearings for the 217 EIR: one on Jan. 23, another on Jan. 30, both starting at 6:30pm and taking place in the Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue.

The final scope and list of alternatives for the City of Goleta’s proposed changes to Highway 217 will be discussed and probably decided at the meeting of the Goleta City Council on Monday, March 3. Although the precise announcement has not yet been made, previous Goleta City Council meetings have taken place at 401 N. Fairview Avenue, starting at 6:00pm.