A recent ruling by a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge will mean less public access to Hollister Ranch beaches for at least three to five years as litigation in the land use dispute continues, says A. Barry Cappello, lead counsel representing the Hollister Ranch Owners Association.
“Judge Colleen Sterne’s decision to invalidate a 2017 settlement, which was tentatively approved at that time by the court regarding public access to Hollister Ranch’s 8 1/2 miles of beaches, puts a stop to approved plans to increase access to the beaches by schools, nonprofits and members of the general public,” says Cappello, managing partner of Cappello & Noël LLP.
“The 2017 agreement negotiated between the State of California and Hollister Ranch Owners Association included the developed and implementation of a public access program,” explains Cappello. “Until the 2017 agreement is resurrected or something different is put in place, litigation will continue for the foreseeable future. This is an unfortunate waste of everyone’s time and treasure, including the taxpayers.”
“Until all the parties agree on a process fair to all, particularly the homeowners of the ranch, this fight will go on.”
Cappello says that Hollister Ranch Owners Association is working with the State and will continue to do so. “The property owners want to ensure that this environmentally unique piece of California coast gets the special protection it deserves,” says Cappello. “Until all the parties agree on a process fair to all, particularly the homeowners of the ranch, this fight will go on.”
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