Articles

Author:  Damien M. Schiff “Balloon Track” Site   Yesterday, PLF announced the filing of a lawsuit challenging the California Coastal Commission’s decision to delay, and perhaps even stop, a much-needed cleanup plan for a contaminated property (known as the “Balloon Track” site) in downtown Eureka, California.  ...

Author:  Paul J. Beard II I'll be on Southern California's John & Ken Show today shortly after 6:00 p.m. PST, along with George and Sharlee McNamee, to discuss their ongoing legal battle against the California Coastal Commission.  We are challenging the Commission's decision to deny the McNamees a permit for ...

Author:  Damien M. Schiff On Tuesday, I traveled up to Eureka for argument in PLF's lawsuit, Citizens for a Better Eureka v. California Coastal Commission, filed on behalf of concerned residents in Humboldt County, to tell the Commission to butt out of the cleanup of the blighted and polluted Balloon Track property in downtown Eureka. ...

Author:  Paul Beard II On Friday, PLF attorneys filed a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission—the State's worst abuser of property rights and of landowners who live and work in the State's coastal zone.  The case centers on the Commission's attempt to take a substantial public access easement from a ...

Author:  Damien M. Schiff Today, PLF's client the Citizens for a Better Eureka filed a petition for review in the California Supreme Court, asking it to review the First District Court of Appeal's decision holding that the Coastal Commission has jurisdiction over the clean-up of the blighted and polluted Balloon Track property in down ...

Author:  Paul J. Beard II That's the question I ask in an opinion editorial published in today's San Francisco Chronicle, in light of Executive Director Peter Douglas's recent announcement that he is retiring.   If you can't pick up a copy of the Chronicle, read it on-line and offer your comments about what you think. &# ...

Author: Paul J. Beard II Today, the California Coastal Commission issued a press release announcing its choice to replace outgoing Executive Director Peter Douglas: Charles Lester. The press release cites Lester's commitment to "improving communications and collaboration with public agencies and local governments," and "to bringi ...

Author: Paul J. Beard II Last week, the California Court of Appeal issued an adverse decision in a case concerning the limits of the California Coastal Commission's authority to second-guess locally approved projects. We represent Franco and Sonia DeCicco, who have a permit from San Luis Obispo County to subdivide their Cayucos parcel, and buil ...

A bill from the California Department of Finance that would have eliminated local coastal programs appears to be dead.  Under California’s Coastal Act, every local jurisdiction within the coastal zone must produce a local coastal program—essentially a zoning plan for coastal areas.  Once the statewide Coastal Commission certifies the ...