U2 Guitarist Wins Malibu Battle

Rock band U2 guitarist 'The Edge' has secured a victory in a hard-fought battle for the right to build his California dream estate overlooking Malibu and the Pacific Ocean.

'The Edge' (David Howell Evans) has been fighting for permits to build five houses, including his own family home, on Sweetwater Mesa ever since he and his wife, Morleigh, purchased the 156-acre property five years ago.

The California state planning agency that oversees open space in the Santa Monica Mountains has now dropped its opposition to the Irish musician's construction plans, accepting more than $1-million instead.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and its executive director, Joe Edmiston, officially agreed to take a neutral position on the Malibu area project in exchange for:

• $750,000 in cash
• $250,000 in consultation by Schmitz & Associates
• Conservation easements
• Open space fulfillment around the homes
• A trail to be built through the property

The mountaintop estate project has experienced heated opposition from conservation groups and the California Coastal Commission, who say it would mar the view from the coastline, affect geology and disturb a habitat.

The agency will not see its payday unless the project gets approval and survives potential appeals or challenges in court. The conservancy is expected to pass a resolution, write and speak in favor of the deal as well.

Critics of the deal say the U2 rock star "bought" the state agency's political influence.

Supporters of the deal say the area would get open space it would not otherwise have in addition to trail easements contributing to a continuous Coastal Slope Trail from Topanga to Point Mugu.

SMMC Executive Director Joe Edmiston highlighted the economics of the agreement.

"The state of California is flat-out broke. There is no money to buy trail easements. Twenty years from now, as thousands of persons enjoy hiking the Coastal Slope Trail, with some of the best blue water views in all of California, they may look back at The Edge's project, but they won't see anything worse than dozens of rich people's houses that were approved by the City of Malibu and L.A. County that didn't have to contribute to the regional trails plan," Edmiston delared.

U2 guitarist 'The Edge' has found an ally to help make his California Dream of a Malibu mountaintop view home a reality.