Residents in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Californian neighbourhood of Montecito feel betrayed as planning permission for a housing and retail unit is given the go-ahead despite voices of concern. The Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel Resort’s housing and retail project - which involves disputed plans to build 26 affordable housing units and 17,500 square feet of high-end boutique retail shops - has been given the green light by the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission. Initially a vocal opponent of the plan, All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church ultimately reached a compromise, which involved reducing the scope of the project.
The church had initially opposed the project but dropped its opposition after developer Rick Caruso agreed to set back the second floor of the apartments closest to the church by 40 feet. The agreement has felt like a betrayal to some of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's neighbours. Resident Page Robinson explained how she had seen cars cause obstructions to the area and saw this as a greater problem in the future.
As reported in media outlet Noozhawk she said : "It’s on us, the neighbors, to run around like the vigilante paparazzi doing the county’s job. Not my first choice. I shouldn’t have to be the safety police.
" Other neighbours fear the planning project will exacerbate parking problems. Another neighbour said: "I feel that this project will have an adverse impact on our public health and safety due mostly to overflowing street parkin.