The February 4 decision by the Board of Supervisors to allow the construction of two mansions on the Gaviota Coast was appealed to the California Coastal Commission at the end of last month by a number of environmentally minded parties, which believe that the project — located on the site of the formerly proposed Arco golf course, just west of Goleta — will hurt nearby seal rookeries, “sacrifice” a successful white-tailed nesting tree, close a trail that accesses the sands between the Bacara Resort and Naples, and prompt further growth.

Last week, two of those groups, the Gaviota Coast Conservancy and the Surfrider Foundation, also filed suit against the County of Santa Barbara for certifying the environmental report, arguing that the project fails to comply with both coastal laws and the California Environmental Quality Act. “We urged the county to relocate the residences to resolve policy conflicts and to avoid significant impacts to habitat and recreational resources, but the board refused,” said attorney Marc Chytilo, who believes the Coastal Commission may consider the appeal as soon as its April 9 meeting in Santa Barbara.

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