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Legislation Seeks To Help Coastal Commission

A San Diego lawmaker says the California Coastal Commission needs help enforcing the law. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Legislation Seeks To Help Coastal Commission

A San Diego lawmaker says the California Coastal Commission needs help enforcing the law. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

As the coastal act is currently written, people who want permits to develop land in coastal areas are not required to repair damage that's resulted from earlier illegal development.

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Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña says anyone applying for a coastal development permit should first be required to repair damage they've done.

She cites an Orange County developer.

"He violated the coastal act, he illegally scraped a hillside in preparation for development before getting the permit," Saldaña said. "Then before coming into compliance and making the changes that were ordered, he now wants a coastal permit to build some luxurious homes very near the coastal zone."

Saldaña says under her proposed legislation, the Coastal Commission could require violators to undo damage they've done before a new permit application would be considered.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

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