A public equestrian and hiking trail at 3215 Foothill Road, Carpinteria, CA, was legally required to be recorded to the public as a condition of development approval. This was agreed to in exchange for receiving several Coastal Development Permits (CDPs).

However, despite permit conditions requiring the formal recording of a 15-foot-wide public easement, this never happened. The permits were issued but the public trail was not recorded. The trail remains blocked, and instead of enforcing compliance, Santa Barbara County allowed the landowner to ignore the agreement and keep the trail private.

Even worse, a one-foot strip of land at Serapolla Drive—a public street that could connect the trail—is being used as an excuse by the County to deny this southern entrance. However, since the property owner also owns this strip, the Doctrine of Merger could apply, allowing a public-to-public connection and opening.

Our Demand:
1. Immediate recording of the public trail easement, as mandated by permit conditions.

2. Open public access to the trail via Serapolla Drive. 

3. Enforce permit conditions and require removal of encroachments on the trail.

Why This Matters:
* This is not just about one trail—it’s about preventing wealthy landowners from blocking public access with County approval.
* Santa Barbara County must be held accountable for letting landowners bypass legally required public access commitments.
* The Polo Villas property is now dedicating its own public trail easement—this is the perfect moment to demand that both trails be recorded and opened together.

If Santa Barbara County ignores this public right, what stops them from doing it again elsewhere?

📢 Sign the Petition Now!
Santa Barbara County must do its job and enforce the public easement. Public land must remain public—not taken away through inaction and backroom deals.

🚨 Sign & Share this Petition to demand public access be restored! 🚨