Chumash Land Meeting Preview

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is set to hold a public meeting tomorrow to discuss its plans for a controversial 1400-acre land parcel known as Camp Four. The Chumash Tribal leaders say they hope to end their housing shortage by proposing plans for a Tribal development on Camp Four. Back in 2010, the Chumash purchased this land parcel known as Camp Four from Fess Parker Enterprises for reportedly 40-million dollars. The 1400-acre parcel sits on the North East junction of Highways 154 and 246. Reportedly the Tribe wants to add the parcel to its reservation. If added, the land could become exempt from local and state taxes which leaves the land acquisition and its subsequent proposed use intensely debated. Many residents say they don’t really know what the Tribe is really going to do with the land and say they only know they’re not going to have to follow the same rules as everyone else and say it’s really important to have equal application of the law. Still others say it’s good for the economy it will create a lot of new jobs it will help bring in some new revenue not only for the county but the state. Tribal leaders say they want to build more than 140 single-family homes on this site.Neither the tribal leaders nor their organized opponents were available for comment.Monday evening at Hotel Corque in Solvang, lawmakers as well as a representative from the Governor’s office are expected to attend the Chumash public meeting where the land development proposal will be officially unveiled.