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Bluff fencing approved for park areas along Isla Vista cliffs

Santa Barbara County Planning Department

Fencing was approved on Wednesday to help keep any additional fatal cliff falls from happening in Isla Vista.

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted in favor of the wood and wire-mesh design, and should the plan pass both local and California Coastal Commission appeal periods, the fencing will be placed along the bluff line of the sheer cliffs at a number of public access pocket parks.

Alex Tuttle with the county planning department says the plans currently do not call for the fencing to extend to the far west end of Del Playa Drive where there is stair access to the beach.

"The reason it wasn't included as part of this current project was two fold; one, that's a less heavily used area so it wasn't seen as critical," said Tuttle. "Secondly, a portion of that fencing would be placed in front of some private residences and there was certainly concern among some of those residents in terms of having fencing placed in front of their property."

However, a second plan that is yet to be approved would call for fencing to be added along this portion.

Temporary fencing was put in place this past June with an emergency permit following the fatal fall of 20-year-old Sierra Markee-Winklera UCSB student.