Lecturer
Specialization
Sea-level Rise and Vulnerability Assessment Studies, Coastal and Land Use Policy, Environmental Planning, Environmental Justice, Social Equity, Rural Resource Management, Agricultural Policies, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Public Outreach
Education
- Graduate Studies in City Planning, San Diego State University
- B.A., Environmental Studies and Business Economics, UC Santa Barbara
Bio
Rita has been extensively involved in land use planning and policy and regulatory permitting with over 30 years of public agency and private consultant experience. As a former public planning agency manager, Rita managed community plan updates and the preparation of numerous program and project EIRs, often serving as the principal negotiator for numerous controversial and/or highly complex projects. Her specializations include environmental and policy analysis involving planning and zoning laws, implementation of ordinance and other legislative amendments, sea-level rise and adaptation planning, social equity, cannabis licensing studies, agricultural resource analysis, rural-urban interface, and neighborhood compatibility. In addition, she has substantial experience with permit processing, implementation and administration of urban and regional design programs, and environmental document preparation for a range of industrial and large-scale commercial development projects. Her responsibilities have included oversight and direction of substantial public outreach efforts, such as management of multiple citizen advisory bodies and stakeholders groups, extensive interface with multiple regulatory agencies, associated press relations, and presenting agency findings at public hearings.
Research
Social Equity Analysis Report - City of Los Angeles; Sea-level Rise and Vulnerability Assessment - City of Carpinteria; General Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan Update - City of Carpinteria; Agricultural Element Implementation - County of Santa Barbara; Gaviota Coastal Resource Inventory - County of Santa Barbara; Rural Regions Plan - County of Santa Barbara
Projects
Agricultural Element Implementation - County of Santa Barbara; Gaviota Coastal Resource Inventory - County of Santa Barbara; Rural Regions Plan - County of Santa Barbara; Toro Canyon Regional Plan - County of Santa Barbara; Carpinteria Greenhouse Study - County of Santa Barbara; County of Santa Cruz Cannabis Licensing Program EIR - County of Santa Cruz; County of Santa Barbara Cannabis Licensing Program EIR - County of Santa Barbara; City of Los Angeles Cannabis Licensing CEQA Documentation - City of Los Angeles; County of Santa Barbara Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Ordinance Amendment Program EIR