P.O.L.O. ~ Preservation of Los Olivos


POLO needs your help! POLO is an all volunteer organization that needs monetary support or your time . . . or BOTH! Please consider giving in order for POLO to continue to focus on land use and preservation issues that are crucial to the quality of life we enjoy in the Santa Ynez Valley.	BECOME A MEMBER: If you like what you’ve seen on our site, please consider becoming a member of P.O.L.O. Your membership fee helps cover the cost of attorney fees and our community activities. Your membership benefits are priceless and beyond measure. You’ll be joining a dedicated group of local community activists involved in projects ranging from local to national issues. Click here to Join POLO!
THE CREATION AND GROWTH OF POLO By Rolf Richter POLO’s origin, in March of 2002, was a response to a major threat to our town’s character and identity. At that time a major development firm announced plans to construct 32 homes, with detached garages as potential second units and an experimental waste treatment facility on 7 acres of the 27 acre Montanero property adjacent to Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. This was prime agricultural land, which had been in farming for over a century. This would have caused a 62% growth rate in a town that is normally growing at 1% per year and would have irrevocably changed the town’s character.
Two families with homes close to the property decided to alert their neighbors to the threat by organizing a town meeting. Kathy Spurbeck and Robyn Richter walked the streets with petitions and flyers announcing the upcoming meeting at St. Mark’s Church. The response to their presentation and plea for support was greater than they hoped for. The hall was filled with concerned community members and at meeting’s end several of the audience stayed behind to pledge their time and effort to fight the development plan. This group constituted our organization’s first board of directors. (See names below*) Subsequent evening meetings at the Spurbeck home led to the name Preservation of Los Olivos (proposed by Steve Pappas) and a 501C 4 non-profit status was formed. Before long POLO had over 100 members who shared a vision to protect our town. Learn more about the Creation & Growth of POLO . . .
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Stay informed. Get involved. Support organizations that you think are accomplishing the goals you think are necessary.