As Iman mentioned it early May, U2 guitarist The Edge has been fighting the Malibu Preservation Committee, in order to build five mansions on a ridgeline just above Malibu, along the Atlantic Ocean. And this is even without mentioning the access road the owners will have to build!
Well, according to the LA Times, he just lost as the project was rejected on an 8-4 vote.
This is what Peter Douglas, the California Coastal Commission’s executive director, said in an interview:
‘In 38 years of this commission's existence, this is one of the three worst projects that I've seen in terms of environmental devastation, it's a contradiction in terms — you can't be serious about being an environmentalist and pick this location given the effects on habitat, land formation, scenic views and water quality.'
The Edge has been fighting the Commission since 2006, in order to build a 12,785 square foot 5-house complex called ‘Leaves in the Wind’, where he would like to house his family members (like his sister), some friends and business associates. He has hired lobbyists to promote the development as totally environmentally friendly, and his spokewoman, Fiona Hutton, has praised the project only to add they are probably gonna sue!
The Commission said the project, a 156-acre development, would greatly disturb the habitat, destroy the scenic hilltop view, and encourage other developers to do the same.
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy had declared earlier this year, that the development would have ‘unavoidable significant adverse visual and ecological impacts’, but agreed to stay neutral in exchange ‘for more than $1 million in cash, consulting services and dedicated open space from the musician and the other property owners’
The Edge didn't even show up to the meeting on Thursday, despite the fact that he was around: U2 was having a show on Friday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
The Edge visibly thinks that money can buy anything, and that he owns the world. This California Coastal Commission has to hold on, he cannot build a small city for himself and his clique up there!
There is even a website about his pretentious project:
http://www.leavesinthewind.com