Cliffside mansion sparks fury as Santa Barbara neighbors fight project

A controversial new cliffside mansion has sparked an all-out war between Santa Barbara homeowners and city officials over fears of “McMansionization” along the city’s fragile bluffs.The Santa Barbara City Council voted 4-2 this week to reject an appeal challenging plans for a two-story home and associated structures in the city’s Mesa neighborhood.As a result, the project can proceed despite neighbors’ objections to its size and concerns about emergency access, utility connections, privacy and bluff stability, which partially collapsed in winter 2023, according to Noozhawk.The appeal was filed after the Santa Barbara Planning Commission approved the development.Councilwomen Kristen Sneddon and Wendy Santamaria voted to support the appeal, while Councilman Mike Jordan abstained because he lives near the property, reported the outlet.Although the council allowed the project to move forward, several members voiced concern over the growing number of oversized homes along Santa Barbara’s blufftops.Sneddon questioned the Single Family Design Board’s decision to approve the project, saying it seemed to go against the board’s original purpose.“The whole reason (the Single Family Design Board was) formed was to prevent McMansionization, and these, to me, are the example of what should not be on the bluff,” she said.Neighbor Alexandra Hack, who filed the appeal, argued that the size of the home could block emergency access to her property and affect an existing utility connection.Santa Barbara Fire Marshal Ryan DiGuilio told the council both properties would keep emergency access, explaining the planned 16-foot driveway would let fire engine hoses reach the farthest edge of the property from the street.Hack also raised concerns that relocating a proposed utility pole could interrupt service.Jarret Gorin of Vanguard Planning, representing the property owners, said they would coordinate with neighbors to ensure their power was not cut off.The property drew a...