Lompoc City Council Questions Most Recent SBCAG Regional Growth Forecast

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - The Lompoc City Council is directing its staff to obtain more information about the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments’ most recent regional growth forecast.

The city council feels the county is underestimating growth coming from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

In June, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) approved a report from the Planning Division forecasting regional growth from now until the year 2060.

Lompoc mayor Jim Mosby cast the only dissenting vote, and had it brought to the City Council’s attention.

At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Lompoc City Council agreed the data in the report should be re-evaluated and more information obtained from both the county and the base, to decide whether further challenge should be issued against the forecast.

Mayor Mosby says the forecast presented in June doesn’t seem to accurately reflect growth that’s been formally announced by Vandenberg’s leaders, and the developments it will necessitate within Lompoc city limits.

Mosby sites decades-old restrictions on annexation for development within Lompoc city limits as another key factor in what he anticipates will create discrepancies in future development plans.

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