On Jan. 21, the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians held a public meeting proposing a number of development plans for their 1,400 acres — Camp 4 — in the heart of the Valley, including tribal administration buildings and 143 homes. That 1,400 acres is the size of the city of Solvang. Tribal leadership and moderator Assemblyman Das Williams told the audience that it is their right, and it is virtually inevitable, that the 1,400 acres will go into federal trust. When land is in federal “trust” tribes claim unregulated development rights. Fee-to-trust is a land use issue. The Santa Ynez Band and some elected officials are telling our community we should all get along and work out a happy deal — the deal being we agree we will be subverted to the county’s pages of protective rules and restrictions, but the Santa Ynez Band will not.Get the Story:
Kathy Cleary: Fee-to-trust is a land use issue (The Solvang Valley News 2/28)
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