November 2005

Coastal Commission Appeal Not Upheld
The Coastal Commission heard MMPC’s full appeal of the Hacienda Vieja Project on 16 November. Unhappily we did not prevail, and the project was approved, 7-4. While additional conditioning was placed on the wetland, kite related issues, and landscaping, the two-story houses remain as part of the development. However, we can hold our heads high as we move forward toward our goal of preserving More Mesa. As a group, we have achieved a laudable measure of success in the course of our 19 month involvement with this development. Specifically:

  • the initial design, consisting of four two-story houses was reduced to two two-story houses, and two one-story houses
  • all four houses were reduced approximately 10% in size
  • heights were lowered
  • the wetland has been taken out of the hands of the homeowners association, and will be bonded and monitored to insure it is restored and maintained properly.

Our sincerest thanks to all of you who have written dozens and dozens of support letters and sat through more than 40 hours of meetings with Planning and Development, the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the Coastal Commission. Without all of your efforts, our voices would never have been heard at all!


Myrtle Warbler, More Mesa

Similar Posts

  • January 2007

    At the beginning of this new year, we have exciting news to report about another glorious open space in the Santa Barbara area; the San Marcos Foothills. For decades, the Santa Barbara Community, as well as and a host of environmental organizations, have worked consistently and diligently to protect this area of great scenic beauty…

  • July 2004

    Building on the Periphery of More Mesa MMPC is deeply concerned about a distressing and dangerous precedent in the making.  Major environmental impact is being felt on More Mesa from development on its periphery. Two large and elaborate, double-story houses have already been permitted off Mockingbird Lane (northeast corner of More Mesa). The permitting of…

  • January 2016

    Our beautiful More Mesa looks bleak indeed! We need rain more than we have needed in almost 15 years! And, although we received a little rain exactly a year ago, the long awaited 2016 El Niño pattern shift has finally happened, to deliver rain for this season. Recent predictions based on anomalous elevated equatorial sea surface…

  • December 2015

    2015 … The Year in Review The day we knew was coming, but wouldn’t welcome, arrived. In late July a group with the same members who circulated development plans for More Mesa three years ago, announced that they represented the Kalid Saud Al Shebaily Group (KSSG), owners of More Mesa. The new group’s opening salvo came…

  • August 2014

    Reptiles and Amphibians: In the past we have highlighted many of the biological resources found on More Mesa: birds, plants, mammals and, in last month’s update, our colorful insects, the butterflies. So it seems timely that the recent finding of a very long Gopher Snake shed should prompt this month’s discussion of the reptiles and…

  • June 2015

    Lots of Special Birds A wide area of More Mesa has been surveyed within the last few days. We are most happy to report that 34 different species were identified during this one survey. Among them were two raptors, a Peregrine Falcon and a Cooper’s Hawk. Also of very special interest were eight singing Grasshopper…