Lawmakers kill coastal exemption for Gehry Ocean Ave
By The BriefBrief
California lawmakers blocked a last-minute effort to exempt Frank Gehry’s Ocean Avenue Project in Santa Monica from California Coastal Commission review. Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur said the streamlined-approval language is “dead for this year,” ending a monthslong fight between the developer and environmental and neighborhood groups.
WHO:Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur; lawmakers; Frank Gehry’s Ocean Avenue Project developer; environmental advocates; neighborhood groups; Santa Monica state representatives; California Coastal Commission
WHAT:A proposed state budget trailer bill language that would have streamlined Coastal Commission review for the Ocean Avenue Project was rejected and is no longer moving forward.
WHEN:Reported Sep 1, 2026 at 6:00 AM ET
WHERE:Santa Monica, CA
WHY:The exemption language did not survive in the state budget trailer bill, and Zbur confirmed the proposal is “dead for this year.”
Reporting from 1 identified publisher for this event.
