Carpinteria Valley Association

08/26/2026

The City Council has officially proclaimed 2026 as the 50th Anniversary Year of the California Coastal Act in Carpinteria! 🌊

🙌🏽 For five decades, this landmark legislative framework—rooted in the voter-approved Proposition 20 in 1972 and enacted in 1976—has safeguarded California’s extraordinary 840-mile coastline. Through a vital partnership between the California Coastal Commission and local communities like ours, the Coastal Act ensures our natural resources are protected for generations to come.

Here in Carpinteria, our beaches, coastal bluffs, wetlands, and marine ecosystems aren't just beautiful views—they are the 💙heart💙 of our community identity, local economy, and environmental health.

🐚 As we celebrate 50 years of coastal stewardship, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting public shoreline access, restoring vital habitats, and addressing modern challenges like climate change and sea-level rise together.

Join us in celebrating five decades of preservation, partnership, and pristine beaches! 🏖️🌿

07/09/2026

CVA is proud to announce our endorsement of Xy VanAntwerp for Carpinteria City Council!

Introducing Xy VanAntwerp — a fourth-generation Carpinteria resident running for City Council, District 5. 🌊

Xy currently serves on the Planning Commission and the General Plan Update Committee, where she works directly on the land-use and coastal issues shaping our district's future.

Communities that value the environment have the strongest economies. Xy is committed to transparent governance, meaningful community engagement, and protecting what makes Carpinteria home.

Carpinteria's Future.

07/03/2026

07/03/2026

Exciting news for our local Coastal View News: The paper won 3 different awards in the Association of Community Publishers 2026 "Best of the Best" awards. Even better, one of those awards was for our President Mike Wondolowski's column titled "Can we have environmental protection and a healthy economy?"
(Spoiler alert: The answer is yes!)
https://www.coastalview.com/opinion/can-we-have-environmental-protection-and-a-healthy-economy/article_387d09d4-c556-410a-abbc-06a6d37b5a32.html

This is the awards website:
https://www.communitypublishers.com/awards

07/03/2026

🚫🎇🚫 While it might be tempting to spark up your own Fourth of July celebration, all fireworks—even those labeled "safe and sane"—are strictly illegal in Carpinteria and throughout unincorporated Santa Barbara County. Local law enforcement will be actively enforcing this ban, and violations are subject to fines. 💸

Banning fireworks isn’t about dampening the holiday spirit; it’s about keeping our community safe. Here is why personal fireworks are prohibited:

🔥 Major Fire Hazard: Carpinteria’s dry brush and coastal winds create a high risk for wildfires. A single stray spark can easily ignite a rooftop or a hillside.

🤕 Serious Safety Risks: Every year, thousands of people—frequently children—suffer severe burns and eye injuries from fireworks mishaps.

🐶 Stress on Pets and Wildlife: The loud bangs and unpredictable explosions of illegal fireworks are terrifying to our furry family members. More pets run away and are lost on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year.

🎆 🎇 Leave the fireworks to the pros! If you want to experience a truly spectacular display, head just a few miles up the coast: The City of Santa Barbara Waterfront's free Fireworks Show will take place along West Beach area starting at approximately 9 p.m. on July 4th.

07/01/2026

07/01/2026

CVA joined our partners Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs and Environmental Defense Center at tonight’s EIR Scoping Hearing for the proposed 191-unit housing development on the Carpinteria Bluffs (where Tee Time and a small farm are now). The public commenters did a great job providing substantive comments on what the EIR for this project needs to analyze. There is a long way to go on this project, but the community engagement is top-notch so far!