May 11, 2001

Contact:
Tanya Gulesserian, EDC: (805) 963-1622 x134

EDC APPEALS CITY DECISION ON WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

SANTA BARBARA, CA- On May 10th, 2001, the Environmental Defense Center, on behalf of the Citizens Planning Association (CPA) and the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara (LWVSB), filed an appeal to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in response to the City of Santa Barbara's approval of the Capital Condo Project at 214 E. Yanonali Street in Santa Barbara.

"This project is inconsistent with state and local guidelines that place a high value on scenic views, especially from Santa Barbara's unique waterfront area," said Tanya Gulesserian, staff attorney with the Environmental Defense Center. "Blocking foothill, mountain and Mesa views sets a bad precedent for how the City will consider other development in the waterfront.

The project, as proposed, is inconsistent with the visual resource protection policies of the California Coastal Act and the City of Santa Barbara Local Coastal Plan (LCP). Under the Coastal Act, the scenic and visual qualities of coastal areas shall be considered and protected as a resource of public importance. According to the Act, permitted development must be sited and designed to protect views to and along the ocean and scenic coastal areas.

Additionally, the LCP provides that existing views to, from, and along the ocean and scenic coastal areas shall be protected, preserved, and enhanced by requiring view easements or corridors in new developments and additional height limits, building orientation, and setback requirements for new development. The Capital Condo Project, as approved by the City of Santa Barbara, fails to protect, preserve and enhance views, and instead blocks views of the foothills, Santa Ynez Mountains and the Mesa.

EDC, on behalf of CPA and LWVSB, have also asserted that the City did not properly conduct the necessary environmental review. Instead, the City claimed that the 40-unit condominium and market project was merely urban infill development and exempted the project from environmental review. The groups believe this lack of review sets an additional bad precedent, eliminating public input on issues of great community concern.

"The problem with this kind of exemption," said Catherine McCammon, president of Citizens Planning Association, "is that it is only allowed when a project is consistent with the General Plan. In this case, it isn't consistent."

The California Coastal Commission will hear the appeal during their June 12 to 15 meetings to be held in Los Angeles.

The Environmental Defense Center ("EDC") is a non-profit, public interest, environmental law firm working to protect natural resources in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties.

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