Beachgoers may gain from a dispute between the California Coastal Commission and Mark Attanasio, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. In 2024, Attanasio’s team faced accusations for using excavators to remove sand from Broad Beach, incorporating it into his property development.
The Coastal Commission launched a lawsuit and investigation, finding that the unpermitted excavation harmed fragile habitats. It also obstructed public access to the beach. The proposal to resolve the issue involves a unique solution: rather than paying a fine, Attanasio has agreed to donate a $2-million oceanfront parcel for public preservation.
The Coastal Commission plans to vote on the agreement on Thursday. Kenneth Ehrlich, Attanasio’s attorney, will provide a statement once the approval occurs. Lisa Haage, the Commission’s Chief of Enforcement, expressed enthusiasm about dedicating the entire parcel for public use, noting challenges with access in Malibu’s densely developed areas.
Settlement agreements sometimes include property donations, but this is a first in Malibu, where blocked access issues often result in fines. Haage emphasized that this approach is more effective than collecting settlement money.
Attanasio owns a mansion on Broad Beach, but the parcel for donation is closer to Big Rock Beach, about 14 miles east. He is under contract to purchase it and plans to donate it to a public agency after the sale finalizes. The 5,135-square-foot parcel features 70 feet of beach frontage. A three-unit building previously occupied the plot but burned in the Palisades fire.
Specific plans for the site will be made post-donation, stated Robert Moddelmog, the Commission’s enforcement counsel. Moddelmog remarked on the rarity of such an acquisition, given historical development blocking public property purchases.
As part of the agreement, Attanasio will also remediate the excavation damage, restoring the sand and beach. Moddelmog pointed out that the excavation left a significant hole disrupting local marine life.
Preservation efforts have been a focus due to Broad Beach’s affluent residents and environmental threats. Over a decade, storms and tides have eroded the beach substantially. In 2015, celebrities like Dustin Hoffman and Ray Romano supported a $31-million project to restore the sand.