Talk about a bad breakup.
No phone call. No letter. Not even a text message.
The city of Santa Barbara has lost its passion for “Makeout Point.”
The area overlooking the ocean is a popular date spot, or place to take in a scenic view. You can pull your car over and enjoy a moment of romance and appreciate nature’s beauty.
But the city closed the vehicle pullouts on both sides of Cliff Drive in early June, saying the closure would allow Public Works staff to evaluate safety improvements, traffic patterns and alternative configurations while balancing public access with safety concerns.
The closure is temporary, but it’s unclear when it will reopen.
The city’s actions have left people indignant.
“I was unaware that this location was such a hot spot for accidents that public access could be denied while staff developed alternatives,” said Kevin McKee, a San Roque resident. “One might ask, alternatives to what? The public’s ability to park there and enjoy the view?”
McKee is a frequent visitor to the overlook between Hendry’s Beach and the entrance to Hope Ranch, took his complaint to the City Council on Tuesday. He requested an explanation from Public Works as to why the overlook remains barricaded beyond what was initially described as a 30-day evaluation period.
McKee argued that complaints about trash, alcohol use and late-night noise should be addressed through law enforcement practices rather than the blocking of access to a longtime, and valued, public gathering place.
“Those are law enforcement issues, not public works issues, and do not constitute a reason to eliminate public access to such a valuable resource,” McKee told the council.
Councilmember Eric Friedman, whose district includes the overlook, said the city is attempting to address longstanding public safety concerns while preserving public access.
“The Cliff Drive Overlook is an important public space to access views of the Coast,” Friedman said in an email to the News-Press. “Unfortunately, over many years, there have been nuisance behaviors taking place.”
Friedman said those issues have included illegal dumping, environmental pollution, drug use, excessive speeding, racing and other behaviors that affect public safety. He said the city first increased law enforcement but determined the additional resources required were “not sustainable,” leading officials to close the overlook while they develop a long-term solution temporarily.
While defending the closure, Friedman admitted the city’s communication could have been better.
“While communication with the general public could have been improved, it is important to understand that the closure is temporary,” Friedman said, but added that the reopening of the south-side pullout is still a priority and should happen mid-August. During this time, the city plans to continue its evaluation of long-term improvements.
Mayor Randy Rowse also argued on behalf of the city, stating that Public Works’ primary intent was to find a balance between neighborhood complaints and the public’s longstanding use of the space.
“Public Works made a decision based on a number of observations and complaints from residents about activities at the overlook,” Rowse said in a written statement.
He said the city has communicated via posted notices and local media while testing different configurations during the temporary closure.
“Public right of way remains important, but traffic flow and safety remain the primary concern,” Rowse said.
Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez, however, shared a very different perspective. He said he believes the city failed to adequately communicate with the public before closing the overlook.
“I actually was driving by it the other day, and I noticed all the blockades, but I just assumed there was some kind of construction happening,” Gutierrez told the News-Press. “It wasn’t until that speaker came and said something where I was like, wait, that wasn’t noted, that wasn’t made public.”
Gutierrez called the city’s communication “a pretty big lapse in public trust.”
While acknowledging the concerns that many nearby residents hold regarding nighttime activity, he still said he opposed the permanent restriction of access to the overlook.
“I’m 100% against that,” he said. “I grew up in this city and always felt like I had access to all these places. Now that I’m older, I see that everything’s being exclusive and being locked down. It’s driving me crazy, and I’m going to push back and fight against it as much as possible.”
Gutierrez said residents who bought homes near the overlook were aware it had long been a popular public destination.
“They knew that road was there and they knew that was a public access point when they bought their homes,” he said. “You chose to move near a very culturally relevant and popular spot in the city.”
He also questioned whether the city’s response was excessive in its emphasis on nearby residential complaints.
“It seems like the interest of a few people that live in the area are dictating public access,” Gutierrez said. “The public should definitely be made aware and also speak out.”
According to city officials, staff are continuing their evaluation of long-term options that could include reopening the overlook during the day while limiting access during the evening hours. Friedman said that once a staff analysis takes place, it’ll be followed by a public review process that will likely include a Coastal Development Permit and possible review by the Planning Commission.
