St. Joseph High School claims that it aims to be a “thoughtful community partner.” But some of its closest neighbors would beg to differ.
Especially since softballs have been raining down in their yards, which butt up against the campus’s newest addition: an unpermitted softball field. How nice for the school’s neighbors! They can now watch high school softball for free from the comfort of their upstairs bedrooms.
Apparently, the good book has something in it about begging for forgiveness—but not asking for permission. If St. Joe’s had asked Santa Barbara County for permission before it began designing the field, perhaps one of the dugouts wouldn’t sit so cozily against a backyard fence and the grandstand that looms large over one townhome’s yard would be a little farther away.
“The top five levels of the grandstand look right down into her backyard. She’s got a rather big dog, and one time it was by her fence, and one of the spectators was petting her dog—from the grandstand,” according the Knollwood Terrace homeowners association (HOA) board member David Whitham.
That’s a little too close.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a sports field built so close to homes before.
Neighbors have been complaining about cracked roof tiles, damaged walls, and near misses since last summer, he said. They’ve taken to collecting the balls that land on their properties, with one resident at 30 so far.
“You can’t enjoy your backyard while a game’s being played because you’re afraid of being hit,” Knollwood Terrace resident Eleanor Lind said.
The county said that it’s currently working with St. Joe’s to address “foul ball containment” in response to an “increase in concerns expressed by the neighbors.” It’s hard to believe the county wasn’t aware of the issue prior to last summer—but it initiated an investigation in December, and then the school decided it should apply for a permit. Funny how that works.
“This isn’t just a permit situation where they built something they shouldn’t have. This is a dangerous situation,” Whitham said. “It’s inevitable. We’re going to have an injury.”
In its retroactive permit application, the school requested a modification to reduce the property setbacks to 3 feet instead of the required at least 15 feet—you know, because the field is already built. So, essentially, all the rules that normally apply in these situations are out the window, including giving residents a chance to weigh in before something gets constructed against their property.
For St. Joe’s part, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is defending its actions by saying the softball field had been a goal for more than a decade and was developed on land already slated for athletic use. And the county is clear: It still needed a permit.
Seems unfair, you know? And neighbors want the school to get more punishment than the county seems willing to give.
“If [the county] retroactively approves this, that sends a really, really bad message, in terms of getting away with something,” Whitham said. “You pay for bad behavior. And that’s our stance on this. I’m sorry that it may affect other entities, like your softball team and others that want to use that field. But your bad behavior should have consequences.”
Yes. It’s a teaching moment for the kids, amirite?
The Canary is averse to flying balls. Send protection to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 7 – May 14, 2026.
This is not the first time. I have picture of them doing another huge cement pour in the middle of the night. I called the sheriff. Reported as noise issue 4:41 a m. They told me it was for a new tennis court. There were 2 cement pumpers going from around 2 am until around 8 am the next morning. That’s a lot of tennis courts. No permits for that either. I have a picture of the cement pumpers all lit up and going.