"It is a little complicated," acknowledged Linda Locklin, the Coastal Commission's coastal access program manager. "It's determined by the mean high tide line, and that changes every day. Only the courts can determine where the mean high tide line is."
According to Geffen's "vertical and lateral" public access agreement, the 9-foot-wide walkway easement extends from PCH to the ocean. East of that is a 51-foot gap, followed by a 225-foot-long public area.
The public will be banned from a 10-foot "privacy buffer" near a seawall beneath Geffen's swimming pool and guest house.
Beachgoers will be permitted on the sand on the ocean side of the mean high tide line in front of the other multimillion-dollar homes that line Carbon Beach. Generally speaking, that translates to "wet sand" areas, according to officials.
Hoye said Access for All would be watching closely to make sure the Carbon Beach opening went smoothly.
And Geffen's cameras are likely to be watching too.
