Residents, sheriff press county for transparency on thousands of undeveloped 'Vatir' lots
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Summary
During call to the public the sheriff and residents urged Santa Cruz County to publicize the status of thousands of undeveloped lots (referred to in the meeting as 'Vatir' or 'Vittari' lots), raise transparency around deed restrictions and consider options to allow adjacent residents to bid on parcels rather than block sales.
Sheriff Dave Hathaway used his public comment time at the Nov. 5 Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting to raise an issue that will be discussed in executive session: thousands of undeveloped lots with unpaid taxes that, he said, have been in "a black hole for years." "These are thousands of lots with no tax being collected, and they have kinda been in a black hole for years," Hathaway said.
Hathaway said he has attempted personally to buy 1 of the parcels near his Rio Rico property and that deed restrictions and administrative processes have prevented a straightforward remedy. He urged the county to clarify who is responsible for public communications and to consider auction procedures that would let adjacent residents bid, rather than allowing block sales to outside investors.
What the public asked for: The speaker requested a named point of contact at the county for periodic updates (public information officer, county attorney, county manager or board) and monthly status reports after the executive session. "You need to give them the opportunity to bid on these lots in an auction or something," he said, expressing concern that the properties could be sold as a block to an investment firm.
What the board did: The board moved into executive session later in the meeting for legal consultation including discussion of the Vittari/Vatir lots. Because portions of the issue relate to pending legal matters, the board did not discuss details in public session. The public speaker asked that, following any confidential deliberations, the county provide at least some public notice of outcomes even if only minimal information can be released.
Context and limitations: The speaker identified the lots as having large sums in unpaid back taxes and attached deed restrictions placed by a shell company. The transcript does not provide a final public action at this meeting about the lots; instead the topic was placed on the executive session agenda under statute for legal advice and direction.
Provenance: topicintro — "This is about an item that's on the agenda for an executive session today, these Vatir lots." (Sheriff Dave Hathaway, transcript block starting 714.605). topfinish — "A little bit of news is better than no news, so that's all I have." (transcript block starting 884.065).
