Malibu homeowner accused of stealing sand has done so before, coastal commission says

Because the Milwaukee Brewers start their playoff run, the crew’s proprietor, Mark Attanasio, is embroiled in a authorized battle again in California revolving round one of many state’s most valuable sources: sand.

In August, Attanasio’s neighbor filed a lawsuit accusing the businessman of stealing sand from Malibu’s Broad Seashore and carrying it again to his property as a part of a development undertaking to restore a broken seawall.

Now, the California Coastal Fee is getting in on the motion.

The fee despatched Attanasio’s lawyer Kenneth Ehrlich a discover of violation in September, claiming that contractors engaged on Attanasio’s seaside home illegally excavated sand and operated heavy equipment inside state tidelands.

The fee additionally stated the development undertaking impaired public entry to the seaside, depleted the seaside’s sand and threatened hurt to marine sources.

The discover, which demanded a response by Oct. 7, requested Attanasio to cease any unpermitted improvement and in addition resolve the violations, which may embrace a financial settlement.

It’s not the primary time Attanasio has been cited by the Coastal Fee for stealing sand.

Together with the discover, the fee connected an extra discover from 2008 accusing the Brewers proprietor of scooping sand from the seaside for a unique home he owned half a mile away.

The 2008 discover claimed that Attanasio constructed an unlawful seawall product of sandbags and metallic poles alongside a stretch of public seaside, planted invasive plant species on a sand dune and impeded public entry to the seaside.

Attanasio offered that seaside home to “Associates” co-creator Marta Kauffman final 12 months for $23.6 million, data present.

“We’re joyful that the Coastal Fee is echoing what we’re additionally attempting to do, and we’re inspired with the actions that they’ve taken to date,” stated legal professional Tim McGinity, who’s representing Attanasio’s neighbor James Kohlberg within the lawsuit. “This quotation of the neighboring property proprietor validates what we’ve got been saying from the beginning: The seaside can not and shouldn’t be handled as a private sandbox.”

The sand battle has ignited a bigger dialogue concerning the personal and public use of California’s seashores, as neighbors and cities battle over their share of a seemingly infinite useful resource that’s drastically shrinking in some areas.