Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Santa Barbara is a gem blessed with natural beauty, a city carefully crafted through the combined efforts of citizen activists and urban planners. A decidedly uncommon American town.
Sheila Lodge, the city's first woman—and longest-serving—Mayor, offers her insights and a behind-the-scenes look at Santa Barbara's urban planning history that serves as an example for other communities to follow.
This instructive volume examines historical battles over the built environment including property rights, height limits, architectural review, downzoning, and density. And it addresses state mandates, political differences, personalities, and power plays, along with the ever-present issues of water supplies and maintaining a high quality of life in a very special place.
"Mayor Sheila Lodge brings a unique insider's perspective of the dynamic forces, local passions, and diverse personalities that have converged to forge the urban fabric of Santa Barbara . . . an indispensable source of historical facts combined with a most perceptive analysis, rich and useful for the ages." —Dave Davis, former City of Santa Barbara Community Development Director/City Planner
