Healing

acre lot in the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking Tuna Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. What he had in mind was building a modest, three-bedroom home for his family. What he got was a long-term nightmare.

Facts

Healing’s property (located at 2640 South Chard Avenue, in the County of Los Angeles) is within the inland boundaries of the coastal zone and is regulated by the California Coastal Act of 1976, section 30000 et seq. of the Public Resources Code. Although some parts of Tuna Canyon are undeveloped, the same cannot be said of the area around Healing’s lot. There are at least three existing homes within 100 to 380 feet of Healing’s property and a paved street (Everdin Lane) intersects South Chard within 800 feet of Healing’s lot. Tuna Canyon Road, a main thoroughfare, intersects Everdin within one-quarter mile of Healing’s property. Water lines and electric and telephone services are available at the intersection of Chard and

A.

Anyone who wants to build on his own coastal zone property must obtain a coastal development permit. (§ 30600, subd. (a).) The application for a coastal development permit must be submitted either to the Coastal Commission or to the local…