A historic hotel in the upscale coastal community of Laguna Beach is facing scrutiny for attempting to create a private beach area for its guests in apparent violation of California state law.
Hotel Laguna, a landmark along the Pacific Coast Highway for over a century, is accused of violating California’s long-standing Coastal Act by constructing a sand berm and placing signage and lounge chairs on a public stretch of sand, SFGATE reported Wednesday.
Social media platforms have been abuzz with images and videos in recent weeks showing a raised sand barrier to protect the protected area, groomed and furnished with lounge chairs bearing the hotel’s name.
One video allegedly showed hotel staff asking members of the public to leave the cordoned-off area.
Andrew Willis, enforcement staff counsel for the California Coastal Commission, told SFGATE that the agency has received numerous complaints about the situation.
The commission says Hotel Laguna’s efforts are a clear violation of the California Coastal Act, a 1976 law safeguarding public access to the state’s beaches. In a letter of violation sent to the hotel on May 8, the commission stated that the berm and signage “unlawfully discourage public access to public trust lands,” SFGATE reported.
Although some sections of California’s beaches and coastal bluffs are privately owned, the state retains ownership of all land seaward of the mean high tide line. Under the California Coastal Act, the public has the right to access the wet sand, meaning property owners cannot legally block access to the shoreline, even if they own the adjacent dry sand.
The backlash has spilled onto the hotel’s Instagram page, where numerous commenters have voiced their disapproval on older posts. Among them:
“Shame on you for stealing public resources.”
“Y’all don’t own any part of the California beach.”
“The richies in OC always act like the rules don’t apply to them.”
“Stop calling dibs on what’s not yours.”
Hotel Laguna did not respond to SFGATE’s srequest for comment.
