All the saints have a reason to celebrate.

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors approved an application to designate All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church as a historic landmark.

The application was approved in a 5-0 vote.

The Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission (HLAC) named the Montecito church a historic landmark in September based on the fact that it was built in 1900 and features a variety of different 20th-century architectural styles.

The church at 83 Eucalyptus Lane was also designed by a renowned architect, Arthur Burnett Benton.

Keith Coffman-Grey, the chair of HLAC, said the commission reviewed the nomination, and felt that it fit the code.

Even though the nomination was approved, some speakers used public comment to express concern about the argument that the church’s views of the Santa Ynez Mountains are part of the reason for its historical status.

Amber Long, an agent for Long Historic Preservation Services, represented All Saints and argued that the public views were an important part of the church’s status.

The views were not included in the resolution to name the church historic, which Long described as an oversight. The resolution voted on by HLAC included the views in its decision, but it was not included in the document submitted to the Board of Supervisors.

Long asked the board to consider including the item before making its vote.

“We respectfully ask that you consider the importance of those 125-year views to the congregation and the local people of that area of Montecito,” Long said.

William Delback, who was representing Miramar Acquisition, disagreed with the claim that the views from the church property are part of its historic status.

He said the views do not meet the requirements to be included in the resolution under the county code.

His main argument against the addition is that the views would have to be beneficial to the public, and not limited to the interests of a select group of people.

“Miramar does not oppose the designation; it just opposes the misapplication of county code,” Delback said.

Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel owner Rick Caruso proposes new housing and retail shops, and church leaders say this version of the project would be a “great loss” for the community. The church would lose some of its mountain views, and has suggested that Caruso place the affordable housing near the church preschool, rather than the current layout.

In his comments Tuesday, Supervisor Das Williams expressed his support for the church and the designation but said the board should not get in the “business of regulating views.”

“The county has tried to stay away from that,” Williams said. “(A) small number of cities have … gotten into that (and) it’s like adding a massive 30% increase in planning and development.”

The other supervisors agreed with Williams and said they would rather accept the resolution as it is.

Supervisor Bob Nelson stated that he felt like regulating views was a slippery slope.

Board Chair Steve Lavagnino expressed his disappointment that the resolution had become controversial and said it was sad that the landmark process sometimes becomes “weaponized.”

“It’s (a) beautiful place. I understand why it’s a historic landmark, but I also agree that getting into viewsheds can be a sticky wicket,” Lavagnino said.