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Help Branciforte Creek Neighbors Defend Our Community
0% complete
$3,000 raised of $20K
5 donations
Fundraiser for Legal Costs to Stop Harmful Overdevelopment at 530 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz
We are Branciforte Creek Neighbors, a group of concerned Santa Cruz residents standing up to protect our community, our environment, and our city’s future. We are currently facing an outsized, legally questionable development proposed for 530 Ocean Street—and we urgently need your help to cover mounting legal expenses in our fight to hold developers and city agencies accountable.
Why We're Fighting
The proposed six-story, 225-unit mixed-use development would:
- Encroach on protected riparian zone along Branciforte Creek—which feeds into the San Lorenzo River.
- Inconsistencies with Ocean Street Plan height, setback, design guidelines, and overwhelm neighborhood infrastructure, 6 story tower backing up to single family residences
- Provide woefully inadequate parking (only 84 spaces for 225 units), pushing spillover into already congested residential streets
- Exploit legal loopholes to save money - bypassing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and avoiding a necessary Environmental Impact Report (EIR), despite known toxic site contamination. This approach disregards the health of humans, flora, and fauna in the neighborhood, and was not disclosed to City Planners or Zoning Administrators until a private neighborhood appeal brought it to light.
We are not against affordable or sensible housing. But this project, driven by an out-of-town developer, represents an aggressive push for profit at the expense of environmental protections, zoning laws, and neighborhood well-being.
⚖️ What Your Donation Supports
We have already retained legal counsel and incurred ten's of thousands of dollars in legal expenses for Zoning Administrator and City Planning Department appeals to:
- Challenge the validity of the city’s environmental review process
- Demand enforcement of riparian buffer zone laws
- Advocate for responsible urban planning and proper community engagement
- Protect heritage trees on neighboring properties
All funds raised will go directly toward covering past and upcoming legal expenses. Every dollar helps ensure we have the expert support necessary to challenge this development on solid legal ground.
Why This Matters for All of Santa Cruz
This isn’t just about one project. If this kind of legally dubious development is approved, it sets a dangerous precedent across Santa Cruz—where environmental protections, zoning rules, and parking standards can be bypassed in the name of profit.
Your support helps us send a clear message: Santa Cruz belongs to the people who live here, not to developers who want to exploit it.
Join Us
Whether you’re a neighbor, an environmental advocate, fellow Santa Cruzan, or simply someone who believes in thoughtful, community-centered development—we ask you to join us. Together, we can hold decision-makers accountable and protect what makes Santa Cruz special.
Please donate what you can and share this campaign widely.
With gratitude,
Branciforte Creek Neighbors
Make Your Voice Heard!
1. Leave comments at the 530, 542, 548 Ocean Street Project Page:
2. Attend City Planning Commission Appeals Hearing on June 24th, 2025
Organizer and beneficiary
Eric Grabiel
Beneficiary