Martin's Beach
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Martins Beach is a beach located in
San Mateo County San Mateo County ( ), officially the County of San Mateo, is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 764,442. Redwood City, California, Redwood City is th ...
, California, named after local landowner and farmer Nicholas Martin. The beach is accessible only via Martins Beach Road, which runs from Highway 1 through privately held land. Billionaire
Vinod Khosla Vinod Khosla (born 28 January 1955) is an Indian-American billionaire businessman and venture capitalist. He is a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures. Khosla made his wealth from early venture capital investments ...
, the current owner of the land, has sought to establish that he has the right to refuse access to the public.


Background

Martins Beach is made up of two shallow coves surrounded by sheer and overhanging cliffs. The coves are divided by "Pelican Rock", a tall and sharply pointed rock cone surrounded by a narrow spit of tidepools. Once part of the
Rancho Cañada de Verde y Arroyo de la Purisima Rancho or Ranchos may refer to: Settlements and communities *Rancho, Aruba, former fishing village and neighbourhood of Oranjestad *Ranchos of California, 19th century land grants in Alta California ** List of California Ranchos * Ranchos, Buenos ...
, the beach and the land around it were purchased in the 1850s by Nicholas Martin. Martins Beach has historically been a popular family beach and surf spot. , there were 45 leased beach cabins. Since the early 1900s, the Deeney family, the land owners, allowed the public free access to the beach, but charged to park vehicles. In the early 1920s, the Deeneys leased the beach to the Watts family. They managed the beach and visitor amenities, including Watts Inn on the beach, which still stands. Also included was paid parking by the highway. In the early 1990s, the Deeneys took over management of the beach. They allowed use of the beach in exchange for a parking fee.


Legal conflict over access

In 2008, Vinod Khosla purchased the property adjacent to the beach, gated the single road running through it to the beach, and after 2010, prevented public access despite a
San Mateo County San Mateo County ( ), officially the County of San Mateo, is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 764,442. Redwood City, California, Redwood City is th ...
judge's ruling that he must open the gate. Since then, there has been an ongoing legal battle to reopen the beach to the public under the legal theory of
implied dedication An easement is a nonpossessory right to use or enter onto the real property of another without possessing it. It is "best typified in the right of way which one landowner, A, may enjoy over the land of another, B". An easement is a property rig ...
and the
California Coastal Act The California Coastal Commission (CCC) is a state agency within the California Natural Resources Agency with quasi-judicial control of land and public access along the state's of coastline. Its mission as defined in the California Coastal Act ...
. Khosla cites the Fifth Amendment ban on taking of private property without "just compensation". The first lawsuit was brought in 2014 by the Surfrider Foundation. In 2016, Khosla offered to sell a small slice of the property for a public beach path for $30 million, about as much as he spent on the entire property in 2008. A court subsequently ruled that Khosla may not close the gate without obtaining a permit from the
California Coastal Commission The California Coastal Commission (CCC) is a state agency within the California Natural Resources Agency with quasi-judicial control of land and public access along the state's of coastline. Its mission as defined in the California Coastal Ac ...
. The
Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
declined to hear his appeal, but in 2019 an appeals court ruled that the former owners' permitting access had not established a right of public access. In 2020, the Coastal Commission and the
California State Lands Commission The California State Lands Commission is a unit of state government that is responsible for management and protection of natural and cultural resources, as well as public access rights, on some of California's publicly owned lands. The members o ...
brought a new lawsuit against Khosla; a trial is scheduled to begin in 2025.


References


Further reading

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Martins Beach
at California Beaches {{authority control Beaches of San Mateo County, California Land disputes San Francisco Bay Area beaches Tourist attractions in San Mateo County, California