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The Edge’s Californian mega-estate given green light (kind of)

By | Published on Tuesday 23 September 2014

The Edge

So-o. Staff at the California Coastal Commission have recommended that a flashy five-home development proposed by David ‘The Evans’ Edge – guitarist in STD-like rock pests U2 – go ahead, this following a five year debate over the fact that his initial plans weren’t very environmentally-friendly.

Evans has had to adapt his blueprints for the multi-mansion compound after they were rejected by the CCC back in 2011, over fears the properties would destroy a large swathe of wild coastline, and ruin the seaside vistas from/of the area. Nor did the organisation take kindly to the fact that Evans had tried to bypass environmental legislation and maximise the development by handing in five separate applications using five separate corporate names. It all looked a bit shady, basically.

Meanwhile, having initially opposed the plans, a State body called the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which is meant to promote the use of Californian land for nature reserves and public spaces, changed its position on the property development, after Evans had, to quote the LA Times, “agreed to pay the conservancy $750,000 in cash so that it could purchase land, including an easement across the properties to extend the Coastal Slope Trail”. Just a coincidence, no doubt.

Skipping aaaaaallllllll the way ahead to now, and following extensive negotiations between the CCC and ‘Team The Edge’, a settlement has been reached, though only on the condition that the development be downsized, plus the houses be simplified and, in the words of Evans’ rep Fiona Hutton, “built to fit the natural contours of the hillside”. Having given the whole thing its informal approval, the Commission’s full panel will now take an official vote in October. I guess The Edge is hoping that they all have iTunes, and are massive fans of U2, and uninvited gifts. And Bono’s. Big. Annoying. Face.

The CCC’s Senior Deputy Director Jack Ainsworth says: “From day one, I had told these guys that the one way to get to approval [was to make these changes]. And here we are back at that same place many years later”.



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