(Isstories Editorial):- Santa Barbara, California Mar 10, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – Local property owner Diana Sandoval is calling attention to alleged unethical practices within Santa Barbara County’s Planning and Development Department and the County Executive Office regarding a bridge construction project that has led to ongoing challenges and apparent retaliation.
On February 25, 2025, Sandoval appeared before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for the eighth time and raised serious concerns about the County’s handling of a bridge reconstruction project on her private property. She alleges that in 2024, her ultra-wealthy neighbor was allowed to reconstruct a commercial bridge and tertiary road–abandoned since 2006-2007, according to county records–without obtaining permits or even a site inspection. She further claims that the County allegedly deliberately withheld these key records from her.
She stated that the “…bridge is located in an environmentally sensitive habitat area and it is in an area known to cause flooding for the adjacent neighborhood.”
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She further asserts that the bridge has a documented history of safety issues, referencing a previous incident where a person allegedly fell through it in 2017. Despite this history, Planning and Development approved rebuilding the bridge on failed abutments, a decision that she claims is incredibly dangerous for the public.
Sandoval Claims the County Issued a Same-Day Permit on Private Land:
According to Sandoval, in an effort to legitimize this, “the Building Official issued a same-day permit–knowing that the bridge was on my private property. This is an illegal taking of my land by the County. Even though they stole my land, they can’t use it because I have a lawful fence.”
Sandoval Claims Allegations of Retaliation and Excessive Fines:
According to Sandoval, “starting this Saturday, Director Lisa Plowman and the County is attempting to pressure me with a $3,000 fine, plus an additional $100 per day, for maintaining a lawful fence they’ve known about and approved since 2021.” This could amount to over $30,000 in fines before her trial, scheduled for November 19, 2025. Sandoval further stated:
“Additionally, in the notice I received, they state you can request an extension, which I have done five times in writing, but they are completely ignoring my requests.”
Sandoval further claims this is alleged retaliation for protecting her rights, given the history of favoritism shown to her neighbor. “Assistant Director Errin Briggs, from Planning and Development, who has a history of exempting the same neighbor from zoning regulations and even allowing the same neighbor to block a public hiking trail, specifically stated “Please make this a priority” in relation to enforcement.
Furthermore, Sandoval states that the County has deliberately mischaracterized her fence as a “gate” to justify further actions and continual seizure of her property.
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor Video:
