Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio's company, 2XMD Partners LLC, has been ordered by the California Coastal Commission to spend $2 million on returning sand and rocks to a protected beach near his Malibu mansion and to dedicate a beachfront property for public use.
The commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a settlement that requires Attanasio's company to restore the damaged shoreline. The agreement also mandates the removal of a private staircase and rock wall that were found to be blocking public access along the coast.
According to the commission, Attanasio's company illegally used heavy machinery, including an excavator, in a sensitive coastal habitat. The machinery reportedly removed sand, cobble stones, and boulders from a marine protected area. This material was allegedly used to backfill a seawall at Attanasio's property on Broad Beach Road.
The dispute began approximately two years ago when Attanasio's neighbor, billionaire James Kohlberg, filed a lawsuit. Kohlberg's suit accused Attanasio's company of using the public beach as a "personal sandbox" and converting public natural resources for private use. The lawsuit included photographic evidence of excavators moving along the shoreline and creating holes in the beach.
While Attanasio had obtained permits to repair the seawall at his nearly $30 million property, the permits explicitly prohibited the use of heavy machinery in the tidal zone and the removal of sand from the beach. Attanasio had previously claimed that his company was in full compliance with all permits.
"This is the right resolution," said Aaron McLendon, Deputy Chief of Enforcement for the Coastal Commission, during the public hearing. "The property that would be dedicated to the public is incredibly unique."
Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge described the settlement as a "rare opportunity to secure beach access for the public in Malibu" and expressed gratitude to those involved for transforming a negative situation into a positive outcome for Californians. The impact of this settlement on Kohlberg's separate civil lawsuit remains unclear.