Anonymous
Beach City Apartments
Source: City of Santa Barbara
A settlement agreement was reached for an administrative fine imposed by the City of Santa Barbara for illegal tree removals at the 801–831 Cliff Drive apartment complex known as Beach City. The City of Santa Barbara and property owner, Edward St. George (doing business as Unknown Dream, LLC), agreed on the amount of $76,000 with the settlement payment to be specifically used for an engineering study of a new roundabout at the intersection of Cliff Drive and Loma Alta Drive.
In 2014, code enforcement inspections at the apartment complex revealed numerous Municipal Code violations for unpermitted alterations to the buildings, site improvements, and unpermitted tree removal and tree planting. An initial administrative fine of $95,000 was issued for the unpermitted tree removals. The fine amount was based upon the number and sizes of the trees removed pursuant to Resolution No. 09-096 for violations of Santa Barbara Municipal Code Section 15.24.020(C). Most of the trees removed were mature Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees at the rear of the property along Arroyo Hondo Creek, and were part of the largest identified Monarch Butterfly overwintering site in the City.
Since 2017, St. George and City representatives have been engaged in administrative hearing and subsequent negotiations, resulting in a settlement agreement to reduce the fine amount to $76,000 in consideration of those funds being applied toward the aforementioned engineering study. The fine reduction was made based on the following mitigating factors: 1) the thorough habitat restoration and monitoring plan developed and proposed by biological consultants hired by the property owner; 2) the cost to the property owner for implementation of the habitat restoration and monitoring plan; 3) an independent agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, reviewed and commented positively on the proposed habitat restoration project and issued a Streambed Alteration Agreement; and 4) the property owner posted a bond in the amount of $427,265.25 to ensure implementation of the restoration, monitoring, and maintenance plan. The project has received all required approvals from city and state agencies, including a Coastal Development Permit, a Zoning Modification, Design Review, and a State Streambed Alteration Agreement. An abatement of the enforcement action will be finalized upon completion of the habitat restoration and related building permit.
Why on earth is the money being used to fund a traffic study???? Why not use it towards re-planting groves or some other natural beautification of the area? What is the logic here?
It’s hard to get the info from the article, which makes it look like he is only paying a reduced fine, but in reality the info seems to state that not only is he funding a $76,000 study for the traffic circle, he is having to pay about $426,000 to mitigate the environmental damage. Thus the posting of the bond in that amount to make sure the work gets done. So it seems that it is a hefty fine and the public’s interests were protected in this case.