1. Where can I get a T-shirt?
Some T-shirts may still be available at two locations in town:
* Island Seed & Feed, 29 S. Fairview, Goleta. (805) 967-5262
* Isla Vista Food Co-op, 6575 Seville Rd. Isla Vista. (805) 968-1401

Recommended Donations:
$12 short sleeve, $15 long sleeve, $35 sweatshirt

2. How much money was raised?
A total of $20.4 million was raised--we made it to the top!!

3. Can I still make a donation?
Absolutely! Even though we met our $20.4 million goal and acquired the Ellwood Mesa as the Sperling Preserve, FOTEC continues to work toward good stewardship of the land and is happy to accept donations large and small.

4. Who do I make the donation to?
Please make your check payable to FOTEC, and send to:
FOTEC
P.O. Box 80456
Goleta, CA 93118

Click here to make an online donation. (coming soon)

5.  What is happening with the development process?
The Goleta City Council approved the Comstock Homes Development and Ellwood-Devereux Open Space and Habitat Management Plan at its meeting of July 19, 2004. Because the land is in the state of California's Coastal Zone, the State Coastal Commission also reviewed and approved the proposals. The replacement public parking lot was completed in 2006. The homes are now under construction.

6. What is the difference between FOTEC and the Trust for Public Land (TPL)?
FOTEC is a local non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Ellwood Coast. TPL is a national non-profit dedicated to preserving land for human enjoyment and well-being. FOTEC and TPL partnered in the Campaign to Save Ellwood Mesa, a two-year fundraising effort designed to protect the Ellwood Mesa by enabling a transfer of development onto an adjacent parcel, and reducing that development footprint significantly.

7. How did the "land-swap" work?
The agreement shifted the housing development off the bluffs to 38 acres of land previously owned by the City of Goleta next to Sandpiper Golf Course (part of the City's Santa Barbara Shores Park property). However, because the building envelope and number of homes approved was smaller, compensation ($20.4 million) was required to return the appraised fair-market value to the investors. Thanks to the success of the campaign, the City of Goleta has now acquired the Ellwood Mesa, adding a three-quarter mile, ocean front, bluff top property to City park land. Click here to see the land-swap map.

8. Who owns the mesa property now that the bluffs are saved?
The Ellwood Mesa property became a new park, The Sperling Preserve, owned by the City of Goleta. The park is now a public, passive-use open space.

9. Is there enough money for the City of Goleta to properly manage the property?
Maintenance costs will be finalized for the Sperling Preserve (aka Ellwood Mesa) when the Open Space Habitat Management Plan is in place. However, because this park is "passive-use", the costs are minimal compared to a more "active recreation" park. Also, the park is not an entirely new entity, but an expansion of the passive-use park the City is already managing (Santa Barbara Shores Park).

10. Who do I contact for additional questions?

Please contact FOTEC at:

(805) 682-0854 or info@fotec.org.