Last February, the Santa Barbara County Zoning Administrator approved a massive estate development at Naples on the Gaviota Coast, just west of Goleta, even though the project conflicts with multiple County policies designed to protect rare and especially valuable species and habitats. This project will set a precedent for development on the Gaviota Coast and was appealed by EDC, Surfrider, and the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. Naples is Southern California’s largest undeveloped coastline with incredible views, public access, and a haven for birds and wildlife. Will you join EDC and Surfrider Foundation at the Planning Commission hearing on January 28, starting at 9am, to urge the Commission to uphold our appeals and deny the estate development project?

The County claims developing a 6,100 square foot estate with an attached 400 square foot junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU), a 1,000 square foot garage, a detached 800 square foot accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a 2,000 square foot barn, driveway, and three septic leach fields on the Naples bluff will not harm our environment.

However, Naples is home to at least sixteen rare wildlife species, including state-protected white-tailed kites and two rare bumblebees. These species are protected by the County’s Gaviota Coast Plan, but the Zoning Administrator voted to approve the development which would displace them.

The project site was already severely impacted by illegal disking activities in 2019. A proposed Habitat Restoration Plan will also be considered by the Planning Commission on January 28. The Plan proposes 0.49 acres of native grassland restoration and 0.14 acres of wetland restoration, but the impacts go far beyond the proposed restoration. Unless and until the Plan is revised to remediate all areas impacted by the disking (including Lot 69) and key habitats that are currently omitted, it should not be approved by the Planning Commission.

Please join EDC and Surfrider Foundation to make sure the County protects Naples and the Gaviota Coast! We need your voice today.

WAYS TO JOIN US

1. Email comments by Monday, January 26th at noon:
Zoning Administrator: [email protected]

2. Attend the hearing on January 28, 9AM (agenda)
In person
123 E. Anapamu Street
Planning Commission Hearing Room

Remotely by Zoom
Advanced registration required

You can use the following talking points in your comments to urge the Planning Commission to uphold our appeals and deny the estate development project:

• The Gaviota Coast—where Naples is located—hosts a mosaic of natural resources, incredible views, public access, and a sanctuary for birds and wildlife.
• Development of Naples would set a dangerous precedent threatening the Gaviota Coast—one of the largest remaining stretches of undeveloped coastline in Southern California.
• The Naples estate development is planned within protected sensitive habitat, including white-tailed kite foraging habitat. Approval would be inconsistent with the Gaviota Coast Plan and Coastal Land Use Plan’s environmentally sensitive habitat policies that prohibit development in protected areas.
• EDC and Surfrider’s expert concluded that the Project site meets the Gaviota Coast Plan’s definition of rare and especially valuable species or habitats that must be protected because it hosts two rare bumblebees (B. Bonbus crotchii and B. californicus). The mitigation offered by the Applicant will not reduce impacts on the species to less-than-significant levels, as required by CEQA.
• The proposed development is based on wetland delineations undertaken during summer and an historic drought when wetlands plants are typically absent.
• The proposed Habitat Restoration Plan must be revised to remediate the full extent of the impacts from unpermitted disking that occurred on and around the project site in 2019.

Please personalize your comments. Why is protecting Naples important to you?

Thank you for taking action to protect Naples and Gaviota! 

Tara Rengifo
Senior Attorney
Environmental Defense Center