lauren
By Lauren Bray, edhat staff
A group of community activists plan to hold a “Protest March to Save the Trees” on Saturday in opposition of a proposed bike path on Modoc Road.
The Community Association for the Modoc Preserve (CAMP) formed in July as a citizen-led grassroots effort opposed to a what they call a “destructive government project.” They plan to march this Saturday, August 27th, at 11:00 a.m. starting at the intersection of Modoc Road and Encore Drive.
The County Public Works project is the Modoc Multi Use Path, a roughly 1 mile 10-foot-wide multiuse path providing safe, ADA-compliant access along the corridor. The path will start where the City of Santa Barbara path ends near Calle De Los Amigos and connect to the Obern Trail Bike Path across from Encore Drive. The first phase at Calle De Los Amigos to Via Senda (1/3 mile) is currently under construction, and the second phase, Via Senda to Encore (3/4 mile), is set to begin construction in summer 2023.
The project description states it aims to create a separate low-stress path for people of all ages and abilities and will provide a safer alternative to the unprotected bike lane adjacent to higher-speed traffic on Modoc Road. There are three alignments proposed, all of which require the removal of trees along the roadway.
“Alignment A” would place the path directly adjacent to Modoc Road and increase the width of the roadway and would not require any easements. This option avoids the Modoc Preserve but requires the most extensive tree removal, up to 49 of them including 29 palm trees.
“Alignment B” is also next to the roadway for portions of Modoc Road but would run along the backside of the Canary Palm trees on the eastern segment of Modoc Road. This option would preserve the majority of the Canary Palms and reduce the overall amount of tree removal to 22 trees, including zero palms. Most of the trees would be eucalyptus trees and other non-native trees. “Alignment C” would follow Vieja Drive to Nogal Drive along an existing unimproved road. Public Works staff is no longer considering this option due to its remoteness, steeper grades, and lack of connectivity to the surrounding transportation network.
The County states it prefers option B due to the enhanced user experience and reduced impacts to trees. The estimated project cost is $8 million, of which $5.4 million is funded by a grant from the California State Active Transportation Program.
Supporters of CAMP argue the path will remove too many established trees and disrupt the bio-diversity of the Modoc Preserve, including the California Live Oaks and 100-year-old Canary Island Palm trees.
They have started an online petition last month and gained 3,000 signatures and a fundraising page has garnered over $4,500 to mount a legal challenge.
“Our goal is to keep this ecologically valuable open space from encroaching urban development… We understand that Canary Island palms and Eucalyptus trees are non-native to California…however, they do provide very important habitat and shade canopy to many species of birds, mammals, and other organisms that dwell in the Modoc Preserve. Embracing biodiversity is a more sensible approach,” the CAMP petition stated.
A counter-petition was started by local bicycle advocates in support of the path and has garnered nearly 1,100 signatures.
“Bike paths reduce pollution and are essential to fighting climate change. A path from Goleta to Santa Barbara can also save lives,” Katie Davis wrote in an Op-Ed for edhat.
The County Board of Supervisors pushed the vote on this path to November instead of their September 13 meeting. A new Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) draft will be published next month to include another 30-day comment period. Following the Board’s vote in November will be a proposal to the La Cumbre Water Company Board of Directors, as the Modoc Preserve along Modoc Road is owned by the La Cumbre Mutual Water Company.
More details on the project can be viewed here.
Related Articles
July 19, 2022: Op-Ed – Save Modoc Road Trees!
July 22, 2022: Actual Plan for Modoc Bikepath Connector
August 19, 2022: Op-Ed – Bikeways Nurture Cities
Don, it’s hardly a preserve, lets just drop that term now and move forward. it’s nothing more than an undeveloped piece of land that a few home owners and renters want left alone. they do not control the world nor does the world revolve around them.
I urge each of you to read the environmental impact report before we all continue this back n forth.
If the land trust promised to keep the land as it was, compromise is not an option.
Santa barbara is full of complainers.
Half the people protesting it don’t even know whats happening
And half the people supporting it don’t even know about it. Including some of the politicians.
But the people that do know about it are very serious.
Protest WHAT?! People all over the world would be EXTREMELY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL to have something like this built near their homes!! This pedestrian/bicycle path will be a safe venue for your children and grandchildren to go places on their own without chauffeurs and without the infernal combustion engine ruling their lives!
CAMP is made up of a few “NIMBY” folks trying to preserve their protected view corridor at the expense of hard working commuters, school children, college students and faculty, hospitality workers, less-abled people and many others who are going to work, school and play by either choosing to or having to ride a bike or walk or roll to their destination. Transportation is the leading cause of emissions in California. By providing safe, separated paths for biking and walking, we can encourage more people to leave their car at home or be able to access their work and schools without driving. How selfish are these people who claim to be saving some trees when the best thing for the environment is to get people out of cars, remove dangerous, fire hazard, water hungry non-native species. I am appalled at the elitist people in this group who are not thinking about the future and all the people that completing this bike path will serve. Sorry if your morning walk with your dog might have to be shared with some folks on bikes but this project is NOT tearing down the forest, it is NOT paving a parking lot or shopping mall. It is creating a path that will SAVE LIVES and serve our whole community. Not to mention that alignment C will involve the removal of approximately 50 trees, many native, it has few and steep access points, is remote, has NO lighting and so is extremely unsafe at night and is simply off the table. Please support alignment B- it is a compromise, it is the safest and best solution for the environment and all users and it completes a small gap in an amazing path that we will all enjoy.
The Modoc Preserve is privately owned land that is managed by the Land Trust of Santa Barbara. The conservation easement that was granted in 1999 was a hard-fought battle to keep this Open Space from development. If we had not fought and won this battle, Laguna Blanca school and houses would be on it now. The thing you are completely missing is this land is preserved in perpetuity. It is open to the Public to enjoy in its natural state. Forever.
C is a county-owned unimproved fire/access road and all you’d have to do is pave it. No trees would need to be cut down. It’s wide, safe, ADA-accessible, elevated views of the Modoc Preserve, away from cars, and not steep at all. Come join me on a bike tour, I took both Gregg Hart and Das Williams this week, they think it is a gorgeous path and has potential.
✅Learn the A’s, B’s & C’s: https://www.independent.com/2022/08/04/dont-choose-bad-or-awful-for-modoc-paths/
✅Sign the SMRT petition: https://www.change.org/SaveModocRoadTrees
✅Donate to our legal fund if you can: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-modoc-road-trees
✅Take a guided walk on the Preserve and get to KNOW these trees: msg ModocPreserve@gmail.com to RSVP, 7am or 7pm daily!
✅Email County Planners Sneddon, Jones & Wageneck and tell them to recommend C!
Csneddo@countyofsb.org
mmjones@countyofsb.org
Lwageneck@countyofsb.org
ghart@countyofsb.org
✅Email Supervisor Hart and tell him NO on A(wful) & B(ad) – vote C!
✅Invite all your friends to MAKE SIGNS ��� and join us at the SMRT Rally, Sat Aug 27, at 11am. (Meet under the tallest trees at the west end of the Modoc. Walk, ride your bike ��, or park your � on Modoc/Encore…)
✅Become a CAMP volunteer: msg ModocPreserve@gmail.com to sign up
https://facebook.com/modocpreserve
https://instagram.com/modocpreserve
If only it was their land?
Who would ever think they could build a 14 foot wide 1300 foot concrete & asphalt bike pathway, a Class 1 bike pathway, in a nature preserve. A $8 million dollar dollar train wreck. Directly next to a existing Class 2 bike pathway.
The possible removal of the historic Canary Island Palms, oaks, eucalyptus trees. This is funny because Goleta is spending $3.9 million planting and grooming their eucalyptus grooves for the Monarch butterfly. Santa Barbara is spending over $8 million to cut them down and bulldoze them. The monarch is endangered. Why you ask? Loss of habitat.
This also will affect the hawks, owls , all the wild life that calls this their home. A year long project, chainsaws, bulldozers, 2000 tons of gravel, asphalt and concrete. There are much faster, easier , and safer options available. I’ve read the accident reports for the past 10 years. I’m not sure there is a problem.
One thing that is for sure is if they continue with this train wreck besides ruining the wildlife they will forever damage the integrity of the Santa Barbara Land Trust. And that will be very sad and really upset a lot of people whom contribute and support them.
This may be a solution looking for a problem.
There is many other options for these dual bike pathways I just don’t know if there is multiply reasons why?”
There is a 20 page document / trust that protects the Modoc Nature Preserve. The Santa Barbara Land Trust has the responsibility of maintaining it and protecting it. They rely on the generosity and contributions to protect these lands. There is other lands under their protection as well.
The MRN is very misleading, this project deserves a EIR. A little gravel: 2000 tons of gravel, concrete and asphalt. Retaining walls over 1300 feet, 6 foot concrete walls also. This pathway which again in directly next to the existing class 2 bike path is 14 feet wide and over 1300 feet long. $8 million dollars.
You make me chuckle. Like we’re experiencing a little dry spell in the southwest.
Seems more like “open space” would be more accurate. But it’s 22 acres or so? Oprah’s house in Montecito is 70 – and probably providing way more habitat….
4 traffics accidents in 10 years. ?? 2 are cars fault and 2 are bikes fault?? Fire ?
It’s a 25 acre nature preserve. I can go and see concrete and asphalt anywhere all the time. Build your bike path on the other side.
It may be piscine to have both
That $8. Million dollar bike path has over 3000 supporters and a terrific go fund me account and a lawyer on retainer and ready.
Take your 8 million dollars and build it anywhere but in a nature preserve
Don’t want to deny you anything. Build it else where and I’ll help you but not in a nature preserve. ? It’s really not that hard.
I know half of Santa Barbara would be grateful with the class 2 pathway you already have?
I agree. The land trust reply’s on peoples generosity and compassion. It’s not about bicycles or not. It’s about the Santa z Barbara Land Trust.
?
I can sympathize a bit with those who want to save the trees. However, saving a handful of trees over saving the lives of pedestrians and cyclists by far outweighs the need to keep the non-natives in place. The sickly looking Canary Island Palms are at the very very top end of their lifecycle, which is about 90-100 years. Please notice the next time you drive or ride by these trees that they are heavily scarred from the Painted Cave fire over thirty years ago. Nature preserves are by definition supposed to be populated with native species, so the eucalyptus and palms are fully out of compliance with anything natural in that area. Good on you folks who think your protests will save these non-natives, but their time is up and it’s time for them to go into the history pile. I’m planning to take photos of the trees before they are taken down, and that way I can share them in the future to anyone who wants to know what they looked like. Looking forward to a safe future with the badly needed bike path.
For those of you who are bird lovers, just remember we have fewer and fewer birds due to cats and rats (raccoons too!).
My apologies for my reply’s being repeated.
We have asked about alternative routes and options, even law enforcement. Speeding cars being a concern. We’ve called the county and begged to get the radar machine fixed that shows people how fast they are driving; asked about the bright green bike lane paint, the dividing poles like down at Cota street, the possibility of making Modoc a partial one way with turn arounds.
Yes we have been busy. I love the trees yes. But I love the idea of a land trust to over see and protect the land that they are obligated to protect. You are trying to break that trust. That’s what I don’t like.
$$$ is the impetus. $5 million grant & 3 million of your local tax. The grant language would make our noses all grow a foot. The road stats are from State street not Modoc. Then they tried to tie in Safe Routes to school to get more points. It’s the money.
I have the accident reports for the last 10 years. 4 accidents , 2 caused by cars 2 caused by bicyclists
CHAINSAW – interesting. So, this is definitely not a death trap by any means? Cyclists aren’t getting hit regularly due to the existing path being unsafe? I agree, a dedicated Class 1 path would be great to have anywhere, but is it so necessary as to disrupt a nature preserve? Doesn’t seem like it is.
Thomas, these people protesting it are doing so because they don’t use it as a bike path nor do they ride bikes around like most of us do. they are just looking for something to gripe about.
“destructive government project” LOL that is just a total blow up of reality. They are removing a few trees and planting new trees. So what. This path was needed 20 years ago. It’s about time.
I fully support the project!!
I fully support the SB Land Trust and their mission. I fully support bicycle routes just not on Nature Preserves that are protected.
Thomas these people don’t utilize the Nature Preserve they are just up set that the free 8 million dollar, 1300 foot bike path may have to be located else where. There is many options. I’m not against the bike path, but honestly building a class 1 next to a next 2 does make me wonder. I’m all for your bike path just not on a nature preserve, a protected preserve.
There is a 20 page trust agreement that guides the SB Land Trust. I support the land trust and am prepared to assist them in protecting this nature preserve.
It’s a huge violation: first the project needs a EIR, a 14 foot wide, 1300 feet long, over 1300 feet retaining walls, 6 foot high walls, over 2000 tons of gravel, concrete and asphalt. A $8 million dollar project that will take a year.
You made me chuckle.
That’s like saying Santa Barbara is experiencing a dry spell with this drought.
Have you done a test drive of Alignment C yet? I’d be happy to take you, C is far superior to A (Awful) and B (Bad)!
✅Learn the A’s, B’s & C’s: https://www.independent.com/2022/08/04/dont-choose-bad-or-awful-for-modoc-paths/
✅Sign the SMRT petition: https://www.change.org/SaveModocRoadTrees
✅Donate to our legal fund if you can: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-modoc-road-trees
✅Take a guided walk on the Preserve and get to KNOW these trees: msg Shelly Cobb to RSVP, 7am or 7pm daily!
✅Email County Planners Sneddon, Jones & Wageneck and tell them to recommend C!
Csneddo@countyofsb.org
mmjones@countyofsb.org
Lwageneck@countyofsb.org
ghart@countyofsb.org
✅Email Supervisor Hart and tell him NO on A(wful) & B(ad) – vote C!
✅Invite all your friends to MAKE SIGNS ��� and join us at the SMRT Rally, Sat Aug 27, at 11am. (Meet under the tallest trees at the west end of the Modoc. Walk, ride your bike ��, or park your � on Modoc/Encore…)
✅Become a CAMP volunteer: msg Deb Thomas to sign up
https://facebook.com/modocpreserve
https://instagram.com/modocpreserve
CAMP’s argument is lame. Build it.
You sound very educated on the Deed of Conservation Easement. Have you even read it? The Land Trust has written a letter to the La Cumbre Water Board and to the County. They were not even notified about this destructive project that proposes putting 2000 tons of concrete and asphalt and 1100’ of 5’ tall retaining walls on the Preserve, let alone cutting down trees. No offense but you simply do not know what you’re talking about. I hope you will sign up for a docent-led guided walking tour so I can show you this beautiful Open Space, the Modoc Preserve, that was designed for pedestrians, equestrians and wildlife, as well as the A, B and C options. To RSVP, email modocpreserve@gmail.com.
Sounds horrible to me.
Maybe I’m the only one who sees this, but it seems to me that the “bio-diversity of the Modoc Preserve” was compromised when they first planted the Canary Island Palms. The palms are home to ungodly numbers of “street” pigeons, which are responsible for the demise of the native band-tailed pigeons by infecting them.
Funny thing is that the protestors are going to use paper, cardboard, and sticks for their “protest” signs, all of which come from chopped down trees….how ironic. After the protest, they will willfully discard their toxic signs that are covered in toxic paints and toxic ink and chuck them into the garbage and hauled to the landfill. Hmmmm….the protesting business does not seem to be very eco-friendly.
The Modoc Preserve Deed of Conservation Easement does not permit paths made of 2000 tons of concrete, asphalt, road base , nor 5’ tall retaining walls. Sorry, @DaughterMotherSister, you need to come up with another plan.
@Arbiter, you’re right “no good deed goes unpunished”, we fought a long hard battle to Preserve this 25 acres of Open Space and open it to the Public for pedestrians and equestrians as well as wildlife. Please come on a guided walking tour so I can show you what you’re missing.
I just wanted to thank the people that have changed their opinion and mind to support the Modoc Nature Preserve once they realized it cannot be moved unlike the bicycle pathway. And it’s in a trust to protect the land. Thank you
Please go read the trust agreement or better yet walk the walk and see the dedication plaque.
Or maybe the County can go with Option A and you don’t have the easement argument because it’s out of the preserve. But I’m sure even then you’ll come up with some argument to stop that because you don’t want it! CEQA is designed to disclose significant impacts without public disclosure. This project has no significant impacts. You may have emotional impacts, but there are far worse things going on every day within this county that you should be upset about. Actual environmental justice issues. Even if you cause the funding to be lost this will not be forgotten. What a legacy you can have here in SB. I will make sure the absurdity of this is on the national news. The tree removal is less than one percent probably of the trees onsite. These trees were planted by the people who probably chopped down way more oak trees than you could imagine. Be sure to share that history on your nature walks. Maybe you can install a plaque adjacent to one of your “non-impactful” desire lines.