Edhat Staff
Source: The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
Earlier today, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $144,750 Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF) grant to the City of Carpinteria towards the acquisition of the Carpinteria Bluffs III property. The City, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, and the Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs have joined forces to acquire this 21-acre bluff top property.
“Approval of this CREF grant takes the Land Trust one step closer to saving this important coastal property. Thanks to the outpouring of support, the Land Trust expects to achieve our campaign goal well ahead of schedule,” stated Chet Work, Executive Director of the Land Trust, “stay tuned for additional news about the acquisition in the coming weeks.”
Just one year ago this week, the Land Trust, Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs and a host of elected officials gathered to announce an ambitious fundraising campaign to purchase and protect 21 acres of prized coastal open space commonly known as Carpinteria Bluffs III. Before the Land Trust obtained an option to purchase the property, it was threatened by the development of a resort hotel complex. Since that time, more than 1,300 community members have contributed towards this rare opportunity—to acquire the Carpinteria Bluffs III property for habitat protection and restoration and low impact recreational use.
“I am very pleased that the Board of Supervisors approved this CREF grant today, providing one of the final pieces of critical funding towards the permanent protection of this important coastal blufftop property,” stated First District Supervisor Das Williams who represents the Carpinteria area on the County Board of Supervisors. “This is a win-win, not only for the City of Carpinteria and the Land Trust, but also for hikers, bikers, birdwatchers and artists, just to name a few,” he added.
“I want to thank the County of Santa Barbara and the State of California, as well as the community a large, for joining with the City in its efforts to preserve the Carpinteria Bluffs III property for the use and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike in perpetuity,” stated Fred Shaw, Mayor of Carpinteria.
“Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, the local advocates for open space along the Bluffs, has long supported acquiring this property as part of our longstanding desire to protect all of the remaining Carpinteria Bluffs,” stated Citizens’ President, Arturo Tello. “Carpinteria Bluffs III will now become a key part of the greater 70-acre Carpinteria Bluffs network that includes the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve, acquired by the Land Trust and Citizens and conveyed to the City of Carpinteria for permanent protection in 1999.”
“Carpinteria Bluffs III claims stunning views of a large stretch of coastline, the Santa Barbara Channel, the Carpinteria Valley and the Santa Ynez Mountains—and as such, this property is an excellent location for the roughly one-third mile of the California Coastal Trail that will connect this new open space from Rincon Beach Park to the Nature Preserve,” stated Matt Roberts, Carpinteria’s Parks and Recreation Director. “The Rincon Hiking and Bike Trail, scheduled to begin construction in the next two years, will be perfectly situated.”
