In a bold move, a California court has put the California Coastal Commission on notice, calling out the agency for “prejudicial abuse of discretion” after it blocked permits for two property owners looking to build homes in Cambria. This decision is just one of several controversial moves by the Coastal Commission, which has famously clashed with businesses like SpaceX due to its views on political matters.
Here’s what went down: two property owners applied to build homes in Cambria, California—one in 2019, the other in 2020. This was in an area where the Commission had already greenlit the construction of 10 homes out of an 18-home development plan. After the county gave the thumbs-up, the Coastal Commission stepped in, overruling the local approval after an appeal from citizens and commissioners.
Fast forward to 2022, and the Commission denied the permits, citing concerns about water supply and the impact on the nearby Monterey Pine Forest. But here’s the thing: the court found that the Commission ignored some important facts. The lots have been getting water service since 2001, and in fact, the Commission had already approved similar developments in the same area. Plus, the developer had already agreed to dedicate over 340 acres of the land to open space, making the Commission’s decision seem a bit off.
The property owners had also committed to replacing Monterey Pines at a four-to-one ratio for each tree removed and two-to-one for any tree impacted by the construction—a promise made in an earlier agreement with the county.
Judge Michael C. Kelley didn’t hold back, saying that the Commission’s handling of the Monterey Pine Forest issue was flawed and lacked proper context. In his ruling, he called the decision a “prejudicial abuse of discretion.”
This win wasn’t just for the property owners—it was also a victory for the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a libertarian law firm that has been challenging the Coastal Commission’s actions. PLF has been busy, winning several high-profile cases, including one where Malibu homeowners fought against the Commission’s claim that a small “private property” sign was an “unpermitted development.”
In another notable case in 2024, PLF helped secure a landmark Supreme Court ruling that government fees must be fair and directly related to the issue at hand.
The Coastal Commission may have been caught off guard by this ruling, but it’s clear that the court won’t tolerate overreach without solid reasoning. The message? If you’re going to deny permits or impose regulations, they better be based on sound, fair, and justifiable grounds.