NIMBY

California County Cracks Down as Rich Locals Try to Deter Hikers

The county contends that large boulders and plants are being used to limit street parking around the popular Montecito Hot Springs.

One California county is cracking down on its affluent residents over their attempts to limit street parking near a popular public hiking trail, SFGate reports. In Montecito, where the median home price is about $7.5 million, large boulders and plants were reportedly placed along East Mountain Drive obstructing street parking near a trail that leads to the Montecito Hot Springs. Without that parking available, there are only eight spots near the trailhead. Last month, Santa Barbara County sent letters to the owners of 11 properties along that road, warning them that they could face steep daily fines if the obstructions were not removed by the end of March. The issue first cropped up in 2022, when a similar batch of letters went out, contending that residents were purposely blocking the road. Four residents sued the county, claiming it wanted to add 62 new parking spots around the trailhead. Scott McGolpin, the county’s former public works director, said it was more like 12 or 15 spots. As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether or not residents had complied with the county’s demands.