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Yahoo!This morning, July 3, Caltrans relocked the gates on the Montecito portion of State Highway 144 in Sycamore Canyon. Caltrans’ action overrides the earlier emergency direction of Montecito Fire District Chief Kevin Wallace who, due to high fire-alert conditions, opened the blockade last weekend, making the road available for emergency evacuations, should the need arise.
However, the Santa Barbara end of Sycamore Canyon is a state highway and under Caltrans authority. Caltrans’ deputy district director Steve Price said this morning the open road was being abused by non-emergency traffic use, which created too much risk to keep the gates open.
“The road is not suitable for uncontrolled public access at this time,” said Price. “This morning we discovered the gates were open and we observed uncontrolled public use of the road. It is our determination that the risk and liability to the traveling public using the road under an active slide is too great for Caltrans to accept.”
J'Amy Brown
MFD Chief Kevin Wallace
In 2005, a landslide closed the portion of the popular thoroughfare that links the city of Santa Barbara and Montecito. Fearing the safety of the road, Caltrans installed nearly impervious gates and stopped traffic from using the slide-affected road.
MFD’s Chief Kevin Wallace confirmed Caltrans authority over the gates and road. “It is beyond our authority,” he said. “If they want to close the gates, I cannot stop them. I thought we had buy-in that the gates could be open in a high fire alert, but I now understand unless there is a fire, Caltrans has to be the one to open the gate.” Wallace said if a nearby fire were to occur, the Montecito Fire District and other emergency responders have keys and permission to unlock the gate. “There are probably 100 sets of keys out there,” he said. “The gate will be unlocked if an evacuation is warranted.”
Price said public safety is Caltrans’ primary concern. “Public safety is our primary concern, but today our concern is the lack of safety of uncontrolled public access.” Price said shortly after the gates were opened this weekend, abundant traffic resumed using the one-lane road for non-emergency purposes.
Caltrans and the Montecito Fire District are planning a conference call this afternoon to determine holiday emergency procedure. And next week, emergency responders and decision-makers plan a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue. Supervisor Salud Carbajal plans participate in that meeting.
"While addressing these safety concerns on Sycamore Canyon Road is the responsibility of the state, I have been asked by my constituents to facilitate a meeting of stakeholders to try to reach consensus on a practical solution to the closed gate during red flag days and the summer fire season,” said Carbajal.
J'Amy Brown
Highway 144 through Sycamore Canyon was closed again on July 3.
Don Miller, a resident who lives in the Sycamore Canyon area, said he is concerned about the immediate situation, going into a holiday that’s a favored time for launching dangerous fireworks. “So Caltrans, on the day before the Fourth of July, is going to shut and lock the gates to one of our main escape evacuation routes?” he asked. “This, on a day when kids will be sneaking around shooting off illegal fireworks, and while the wind is predicted to start increasing and the humidity is supposed to drop? Give me that damn key and I will gladly sit down there tomorrow next to the open and unlocked gates.”
Unfortunately, Caltrans’ Price responded to Miller’s offer by noting only law enforcement personnel, duly sworn in and authorized by the state of California, can give traffic direction. So go back to sharpening that chainsaw, Don.
LARGURA PROJECT UPDATE: Largura project architect, Bob Easton, submitted a substantially refined project to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review this week, but even with reduced square footage, the project met with continued neighborhood resistance. After reviewing the project for more than an hour, MBAR postponed action, requesting Easton install story poles on the Bella Vista Road hillside parcel and return to MBAR on July 30.
Kay Peterson, a neighbor to the project, testified she was speaking for herself and 12 other neighbors who want story poles erected so they could better visualize the size and position of the 4,200-square-foot house and guest house. The poles will be installed by July 15 and remain in place until at least July 30. On that date, MBAR will again review the Largura project, with the intention of reaching a decision. Prior to the hearing, MBAR will make a 2 p.m. site visit to the property.
PHARMACY PROPERTY CHANGES: On July 10, the proposed changes to the San Ysidro Pharmacy property, located on the northwest corner of East Valley and San Ysidro roads in the Upper Village, will be discussed at the Montecito Association meeting. Property owner Richard Gunner has been working with architect Don Nulty to create a plan for the property. Preliminary plans include retention of most of the existing structures, and the addition of 5,000 square feet of retail/office space. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the Montecito Hall, 1469 East Valley Road.
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Assemblyman Pedro Nava organized and facilitated a conference call this afternoon between emergency responders, local decision makers and Caltrans to discuss the red flag roadblock on State Highway 144.
As a result of that call, Caltrans agreed to post a one-way sign package at the closed portion of 144. The additional traffic signs will allow Caltrans to give local fire personnel authority to unlock the security gate on 144 on red flag high fire alert days.
Among those participating in today’s conference call was Assemblyman Nava, Supervisor Carbajal, Montecito Fire Chief Wallace, Michael Harris, Santa Barbara County Director of Emergency Operations Michael Harris, Chief Mitch Vaughn from Santa Barbara City Fire, and Caltrans’ Steve Price.
“This is a great first step for red flag days, but I am committed toward working on the next steps as well,” Nava said.
Supervisor Carbajal echoed Nava’s words. “The red flag alert is a great initial step, but the issue doesn’t end on fire alert days. We are committed to looking for long term solutions." Next week Carbajal said he is organizing a meeting to address this issue and, of course, Montage will keep you posted.
JAMY (J'Amy Brown)
July 3, 2007 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can tell you that there have been many people working behind the scenes to make this issue a hot top priority, one being your very own J'Amy Brown. We are so fortunate here in Montecito to have people such as J'Amy that are willing to go the distance to get things accomplished. Thank-you everyone whom had a hand in this!!
I am happy to also tell you, just having returned from my pancake breakfast at the Monetcito Fire Station, that I next drove down and checked on the gates. The one way sign package was installed - overnight - as promised and the gates were unlocked and open as of 08:00 on the 4th of July!! These gates have been closed and opened, locked and unlocked so many times this past week they are going to get worn out, so we better discipline ourselves and remember to use this route as an EMERGENCY ESCAPE EXIT ONLY!! Not to run down to Trader Joe's. Hopefully the novelty of having it opened up again will wear off and people will discipline themselves and enjoy knowing it is open but won't use it unless it is an emergency.
HAPPY 4 th of JULY!!
Stop the Talk & Walk the Walk!
Chainsaw Don
SR2S
chainsaw (anonymous profile)
July 4, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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