SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — One of Santa Barbara's most popular ocean overlooks is temporarily closed to drivers as city officials evaluate safety, traffic operations, and public access.
The City of Santa Barbara has closed vehicle access to the Cliff Drive overlook above Hendry's Beach as part of a trial period prompted by ongoing concerns from nearby residents. Officials say the closure is not the result of a single incident but instead follows complaints about speeding, excessive noise, littering, and late-night activity.
The overlook has long been a favorite destination for locals and visitors looking to take in panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Channel Islands, and Santa Barbara's coastline.
"Going through Hope Ranch is really pretty, especially on Cliff Drive right here," said Isla Vista resident Lyndon Bohanan. "You see the water on a clear day, the Channel Islands. So it's kind of a nice mix."
The location is also known for drawing crowds after sunset.
"You've been able to come here and watch meteor showers and full moons and eclipses and just have really memorable moments with friends and family," said Santa Barbara City Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez, who represents District 3.
Business owner Autumn Fish hopes the overlook will eventually reopen to vehicles.
"I'd rather it be open," Fish said. "I'd rather it be here for the people. There's not too many places like this where you can pull up and watch the sunset."
Not everyone opposes the temporary closure.
Santa Barbara resident Peter Amir said the area has become increasingly problematic in recent years.
"There's a lot of young guys that come over. They do drugs, they do loops, they race their cars, and it just became a very dangerous situation," Amir said.
While Gutierrez says he understands the need to address neighborhood concerns, he criticized the way the closure was implemented.
"This kind of came as a surprise to all of us, and I was a little upset and disappointed with the city staff to not have more of a public discourse about this," Gutierrez said. "We are doing that now, but city staff is doing this until mid-August, and I just don't think they were going about it the right way."
Gutierrez said he plans to push back against any effort to permanently restrict public access.
"To all the people that live in the area that are complaining about what's happening here, I apologize for the discomfort, but this is a public street and we're not going to make it private because you feel uncomfortable," Gutierrez said.
City staff will monitor conditions during the temporary closure before determining whether to reopen the overlook to vehicles or consider longer-term changes.
Pedestrians can continue to access the overlook on foot while the evaluation is underway.
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