Proposed Project
A project has been approved
for the Coral Casino which will add a second story restaurant. This
restaurant will destroy many of the most significant architectural
elements of Gardner Dailey’s original LOW, LINEAR
and OPEN International Modern design and compromise the
architectural integrity of the landmarked Coral Casino. The primary
justification for the project is to create a second story restaurant
with a view of the Pacific Ocean. However, an alternate design was
rejected which would have provided the additional space for a
restaurant on the first floor. This alternate design would have
preserved many of the most significant architectural elements of
Gardner Dailey’s original design and did not compromise the
architectural integrity of the landmarked Coral Casino.
Approvals have been granted for the
proposed project by the County of Santa Barbara. Those
approvals were appealed to the California Coastal Commission
(on August 10 2005, Coral Casino, Appeal No. A-4-STB-05-130 item
14.d of Agenda at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html .) The Commission voted not to hear
the appeals. Both appellants were given a total of several
minutes to speak.
A lawsuit has been filed, as Santa Barbara County
violated CEQA in failing to adopt feasible project alternatives: the
project objectives can be met without adding a second story
restaurant. A December 20, 2005 hearing upheld that no
demolition will take place until the case is resolved. That court
date is set for March 10, 2006. Meanwhile supporters of the
demolition plan, officially labeled the Selective Salvage
Plan, continue to accuse preservationists of abusing the
administrative process as a delay tactic. Preservationists
likewise have been threatened by project supporters
with lawsuits and other forms of harassment. The local press
favors the project, making it difficult to educate the community
about the facts.
Please
view http://www.coralcasinoprivateclub.org
for further details and evidence of what is truly happening
to Santa Barbara. This project, that represents so many adverse
impacts, mirrors a multitude of major development projects
changing the face and quality of life of this community. Citizens
now have to fight for compliance with zoning ordinances
and laws while wealthy developers appear to buy the green light
for projects which should never even be considered.
California Coastal
Commission
South
Central Coast District Office
89
South California Street, Suite 200
Ventura, CA 93001-2801
FAX (805) 641-1732
California Coastal
Commission
Headquarters
Office
45 Fremont Street
Suite
2000
San Francisco, CA 94105-2219
FAX (415)
904-5400
Additional contact information can
be found at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/address.html
A roster
of the Commissioners is listed at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/roster.html
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