Residents urge Buellton planners to designate Williamson/Willoughson lands as open space

During the public‑comment period, two residents urged the Buellton Planning Commission to protect green space near the library and the Williamson Green area by rezoning or otherwise designating the parcels as open space or recreational land.

Larry Bishop said neighbors view the green area around the library as part of the park and requested the city act quickly to zone the “entire area” as open space or recreational so it is not parceled into uses that might “not be to the benefit of the people of Buellton.” He also warned the city could sell part of the land to the school after roughly four years, and urged the commission to preemptively protect the site.

Judith Dale, who said she has experience on the city council, urged the commission to zone the land in front of the library recreational or public space when the school’s five‑year lease ends and said the property would be ideal for a children’s museum and a community meeting space rather than being converted to housing or unrelated commercial development.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments and the planning staff noted that the draft license/lease agreement for portions of the property has not yet been reviewed by council; staff said those terms remain under discussion and that zoning and lease coordination will be addressed in future steps.

No formal action or vote occurred on zoning changes; the comments were recorded for the commission’s consideration and will inform future land‑use discussions.