Santa Barbara council backs cliffside mansion despite neighbor opposition
The Santa Barbara City Council voted 4-2 to allow a two-story cliffside home to proceed, overriding a neighbor’s appeal over size and safety concerns.
A proposed two-story mansion on Santa Barbara’s Mesa bluff sparked a dispute between local residents and city officials over fears of “McMansionization” on unstable terrain. The Planning Commission initially approved the development, prompting neighbor Alexandra Hack to file an appeal highlighting concerns about emergency access, utility connections, privacy, and recent bluff collapse. Councilwomen Kristen Sneddon and Wendy Santamaria voted to uphold the appeal, but the council voted 4-2 to reject it, allowing the project to move forward.
Fire Marshal Ryan DiGuilio assured that a 16-foot driveway would maintain fire-engine reach, and Vanguard Planning’s Jarret Gorin pledged to coordinate utility work. Critics such as Kelly Boker and Councilman Eric Friedman warned the size and location were out of character for the area, while Councilwoman Meagan Harmon suggested broader policy changes rather than case-by-case decisions.
Why it matters
The decision sets a precedent for future development on Santa Barbara’s vulnerable bluffs.
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