The green home is the offending property at Las Flores Beach. Photo: LA Times via Californiacoastline.org
The California Coastal Commission finally worked up the chutzpah to fine Malibu property owners who have long blocked off public beach access with fences, gates and other obstructions. For the first time in its history, on Thursday the commission actually levied fines, slapping two property owners with a total of just over $5 million in penalties, according to the L.A. Times.
First, understand this: 19 out of 29 public easements in Malibu are illegally blocked off by property owners who flout the law and ignore coastal commission requests to open the access points.
For nine years, the commission has tussled with Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren M. Lent and his wife, Henny. Their $1,000-a-night rental property has long blocked a public walkway to the sand at Las Flores Beach. After having sent 30 warning letters, the commission slapped them with $4.2 million in fines, the L.A. Times reports.
“It’s clear that they are dragging this on as long as they can and damaging the public’s right to use the beach,” said Commissioner Mark Vargas.
The commission also settled a dispute with the owners of the $80 million Malibu Beach Inn at Carbon Beach, aka “Billionaire’s Beach.” A string of owners, including the Hollywood moguls David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, have refused to install two beach access stairways required by law. Under the agreement, current owners Mani Brothers Real Estate Group will have to build a half-million dollar crosswalk and pay another combined half million dollars in fines and conservation fees.
