California Coastal Commission brought to heel with bombshell development ruling
The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the California Coastal Commission overstepped its authority by asserting appellate jurisdiction over a San Luis Obispo County housing project, effectively limiting the agency's power to block locally approved coastal developments. The court determined that judicial interpretation of local coastal programs should not defer to the commission, marking a significant shift in regulatory oversight. The decision supports developer Tim Shea's long-standing effort to build on three lots in Los Osos, which had been delayed by commission appeals.
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Metro California Coastal Commission brought to heel with bombshell development ruling By Nina Joudeh Published April 30, 2026, 3:09 p.m. ET California’s powerful coastal watchdog has suffered a major blow after the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled it overstepped its authority over a shoreline development. In a 7-0 ruling, the court sided with Shear Development and determined the California Coastal Commission had improperly asserted appellate jurisdiction over a long-running San Luis Obispo County housing project. 6 In a 7-0 ruling, the court sided with Shear Development and determined the California Coastal Commission had improperly asserted appellate jurisdiction over a long-running San Luis Obispo County housing project.
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