Petition Pushes Montara Restaurant to Comply With Coastal Act

For more than two years the owners of La Costanera restaurant “turned a deaf ear” to the Coastal Commission’s letters citing California Coastal Act violations, including roof-mounted floodlights shining down on Montara State Beach, according to Midcoast Community Council (MCC) vice chair Lisa Ketcham.

But after less than a week of a “fast-growing on-line petition, the floodlights have been removed,” she said.

Coastsiders voiced their disdain for the floodlights on Half Moon Bay Patch when Montara resident Kevin Stokes posted a photo of the solstice full moon 10 days ago that was outcompeted by the floodlights from La Costanera restaurant.

Lennie Roberts, on behalf of the Committee for Green Foothills, wrote the restaurant back in April, “I urge that you require removal of the new lighting installed on the ocean-facing roof of the building that is directed out to the beach and ocean … This lighting is inconsistent with the LCP and can create potentially adverse impacts to sensitive resources including birds and other beach and ocean dwelling species.”

Additional letters sent from the Coastal Commission staff over the past two years and 100 people signing the recent petition is what it took before the light fixtures in question were removed last week.

“Excellent news. The people have spoken, and the restaurant has at last listened,” said Stokes. “Thank you to the 100 concerned people who signed the petition. And thank you to the owners of La Costanera for complying with the permit requirements, just like every other business owner would have to.” 

Calls into the restaurant for comment on the issue have not been returned.