March 25, 2016 -- Residocracy is in the beginning stages of building a treasury to fund its campaign for a ballot measure that, if approved, would radically change the development approval process in Santa Monica and put many decisions in the hands of the voters.

The slow-growth group raised $20,076 through March 11, according to a financial statement submitted to the City last week.

No formal opposition group has been formed to challenge the proposal called the Land Use Voters Empowerment (LUVE) initiative.

But it’s early, and potential opponents are likely waiting to see if Residocracy can qualify the measure for the ballot.

Residocracy must collect at least 6,500 valid signatures to force a question before the City Council.

The council would then have to determine if it wants to put the language of the initiative into law (not a likely occurrence based on council members’ statements to The Lookout) or place the measure on the November ballot ("Proposed LUVE Initiative Getting Little Support from Santa Monica Council Members," March 2, 2016).

Fundraising began in November, and 43 people have given money in amounts ranging from $100 to $3,000. There is no legal limit to how much money Residocracy can raise or the amount individuals can donate to the group.

The largest donors are Carol Landsberg with $3,000 and Arthur Alper with $2,000, as well as $1,000 each from Mark Sandelson, Brenda Anderson and Timothy Whalen.

The campaign has spent $14,616, the vast majority ($12,500) going to consultant Strumwasser & Woocher for “assistance writing initiative,” according to the statement.

This is likely only a small amount of the money that will be needed to get the LUVE initiative passed.

Supporters of Measure T in 2008 spent $140,000 on the proposal that would have set limits on development. The opposition spent nearly $800,000 to successfully defeat the proposal.

Ballot battles do not frequently turn into million-dollar contests at the local level, but they do in Santa Monica when the stakes are high.

This happened two years ago with rival measures on the ballot regarding the City’s control of Santa Monica Airport. Nearly $1.1 million was spent in that election, with most of the money coming from two East Coast aviation interest groups.

The aviation interest groups did not get what they hoped for out of their spending, with the measure they favored losing and the one they opposed winning.

The LUVE initiative, if it reaches the ballot, will inspire a vigorous debate because it calls for major changes to the City’s planning process.

If approved, residents would have the final say on most significant development proposals.

They would vote on development agreements, most developments larger than two to three stories and major changes to planning policies, as well as any City “specific” plan, the zoning ordinance or land use maps and zoning district maps.

There are exemptions for affordable and moderate-income housing, 100 percent senior citizen housing projects and single-unit dwellings.

Another proposed ballot measure for November in the signature collection phase is one that would make the city attorney an elected position ("Activist Wants City Attorney Chosen by Santa Monica Voters," February 22, 2016).

A campaign group has been formed to support this measure called Santa Monicans for Democracy. It has so far not reported any fundraising or spending.