Beachgoers may benefit significantly from a high-profile dispute between the California Coastal Commission and Mark Attanasio, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. In 2024, Attanasio’s construction crew faced accusations of excavating sand from Broad Beach and transporting it to his property for a development project. This activity led to a lawsuit and an investigation by the Coastal Commission.
The investigation revealed that the unauthorized excavation harmed sensitive habitats. The report also noted that Attanasio’s development partially obstructed public access to the beach. However, the proposed solution is unconventional. Instead of a monetary penalty, Attanasio agreed to donate a $2 million oceanfront lot for public preservation, as stated by the Coastal Commission.
The commission is set to vote on the agreement on Thursday. Kenneth Ehrlich, Attanasio’s attorney, stated he would wait until the decision to comment. Lisa Haage, the Coastal Commission’s Chief of Enforcement, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We rarely have the chance to dedicate a whole parcel to the public.” She emphasized the ongoing challenge of opening public pathways to Malibu’s crowded beaches.
While property donations in settlements are not new, Haage noted this is a first in Malibu, where land is valuable and residents often face fines for blocking public access. She commented, “This resolves the issue better than settlement money sitting unused.”
Attanasio’s beachfront mansion is in Broad Beach, but the donated property lies approximately 14 miles east near Big Rock Beach. He is currently under contract to purchase the property, promising to donate it once the sale concludes. The lot spans 5,135 square feet and has 70 feet of beachfront. It previously housed a three-unit building destroyed in the Palisades fire.
The property’s future plans for recreational use will be determined after its transfer to a public agency, explained Robert Moddelmog, Coastal Commission’s enforcement counsel. “People have long questioned why agencies can’t acquire eastern Malibu lots, but historically, it’s been a wall of houses,” Moddelmog said. “Acquisitions like this are rare.”
As part of the agreement, Attanasio also pledged to restore the sand and repair the beach. Moddelmog reported that the excavation left a large hole in the rocky intertidal zone, affecting marine life such as fish and sea stars.
In recent years, preservation has been crucial along Broad Beach, a highly exclusive area where celebrities and business magnates invest millions for beachfront homes. The beach has experienced severe sand loss due to storms and high tides. In 2015, prominent residents including Dustin Hoffman, Ray Romano, and Pierce Brosnan committed $31 million to restore the beach’s sand.