Legal Battle Continues Over Public Beach Access at Hollister Ranch

Legal skirmishing continued in Judge Colleen Sterne’s courtroom this week for public beach access at Hollister Ranch. Two years ago, Hollister Ranch property owners sued the California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy to stop enforcement of a 1982 offer intended to allow the public to travel along the coast via a bluff-top trail and road to reach a 3,880-foot private beach at the ranch. This week’s hearing was about exchanging evidence and discovery documents. Two months ago, Judge Sterne denied a motion by ranch owners for the pretrial settlement of certain issues. The case is expected to go to trial early next year.