The Latest: California hotel fined $1.6M for blocking beach

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Latest on a fine against the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay (all times local):

4:40 p.m.

The California Coastal Commission has approved a $1.6 million fine against the operators of a posh Northern California hotel for failing to provide public access to its nearby beaches.

The Mercury News of San Jose reports that commissioners approved the penalty against the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Thursday at a meeting in San Diego. The fine was part of a settlement with the commission, which alleged that the hotel did not display signs informing the public about the beach access. It also prevented the public from easily accessing nearby public parking spaces.

The 261-room luxury oceanfront hotel, golf course and spa was built in 2001.

The penalty is the second-largest in the commission’s history. It will help increase access to state beaches and purchase land north of the hotel to expand beach access.

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3:25 p.m.

A posh Northern California hotel is facing a $1.6 million penalty for failing to provide public access to its nearby beaches.

The Mercury News of San Jose reports that the California Coastal Commission was considering the fine Thursday against the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of San Francisco.

All California beaches are public with rare exceptions, but the hotel did not display signs informing the public about the beach access. It also prevented the public from easily accessing nearby public parking spaces.

The penalty would be the second-largest in the commission’s history. The commission would use $1 million to fund amenities to help the public use state beaches with the rest for purchasing land north of the hotel to expand public beach access.

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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com