and 's home of Montecito is in chaos as homeowners say there are too many tourists. Hundreds flock to the hot springs in , with cars and tour buses parking in droves along a narrow, remote road by the walking trail.
"The last time I tried to hike (the hot springs trail), I had to park so far away that it would have been a hike to get to the hike," said Laura Capps, chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Homeowners have even tried to block drivers from parking in the area by placing bushes and boulders that then need to be removed by the authorities, .
Last May, a group of residents reportedly went so far as to try to hire a demolition crew to destroy the hot springs.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted in March to restrict parking on days when alerts have been issued by weather authorities for wildfires or floods.
This is because too many vehicles parked on the road would present a hazard for emergency services and prevent easy evacuation. Also, increased human activity on high-risk fire days increases the chances of accidental fires.
Something similar was enforced in Mission Canyon in 2012, with no parking and tow-away zones near trails on Red Flag Warning days.
"This project is something we are very supportive of, and we have been leaning in with our partners from the county, state, and federal agencies on making changes," said Montecito Fire Chief David Neels.
Santa Barbara County has set aside £19,000 to enforce this new rule, to cover the police overtime on the roundabout 20 alert days a year. It will pilot this year.
Supervisors hope what's learned from the measures will open discussions about how to deal with similar situations at other popular walking trails across the county.
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