A billionaire was accused of stealing Malibu sand. Now he's donating a new beach to the public

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred Beachgoers may be the big winners in a high-profile dispute between the California Coastal Commission and Mark Attanasio, the billionaire businessman who owns the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.In 2024, Attanasio’s construction team was accused of using excavators to dig up sand from Broad Beach and carry it back to his property as part of a beachfront development.The construction work kicked off a lawsuit, followed by an investigation by the Coastal Commission.The investigation found that the unpermitted excavation degraded sensitive habitats, according to a commission fact sheet.

It also concluded that Attanasio’s project partially blocked public beach access.But the proposed resolution is a bit unorthodox: instead of paying a fine or a fee, the billionaire has agreed to donate a $2-million oceanfront parcel to be preserved for the public, according to the Coastal Commission.The agreement awaits an approval vote from the Coastal Commission, which is set for Sept.10.

Kenneth Ehrlich, an attorney representing Attanasio, said he won’t have a statement regarding the deal until it’s approved.“We’re very excited because we rarely have the opportunity to dedicate a whole parcel to the public,” said Lisa Haage, the Coastal Commission’s Chief of Enforcement, adding that opening public pathways to Malibu’s prized beaches, where houses crowd shoulder to shoulder, is always a challenge.Property donations aren’t unheard of in settlement agreements, but Haage said this is the first she can remember in Malibu, where land is prized and residents consistently get fined for blocking public access.“This is a better way to resolve the situation than settlement money sitting in a pot somewhere,” Haage said.Attanasio’s beachfront mansion is in Broad Beach, but the property he’s donating sits abou...