MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — If you walk along Stinson Beach on any day this summer, you’ll see sun, sand and waves as far as the eye can see.
But over the past week, a new sight has emerged: these makeshift fences along several beachfront properties.
The fences caught the attention of Marin County authorities, who said they first received complaints on August 13 that the fences were hindering access to the public beach.
“We take these complaints very seriously. Whenever we receive one, we send someone to investigate and see if what is happening is actually true,” said Laine Hendricks, a Marin County spokeswoman.
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The county said an investigation into whether the fences were built on public land or on homeowners’ property is still ongoing.
On the beach itself, opinions on the issue seemed divided on Thursday morning, but some showed understanding for the property owners.
“There are so many people. People are setting up little tents and shade structures, dogs are running around. It gets very, very crowded and I can understand that some homeowners don’t want people coming up to their patios,” said Mireya Quirie.
Others believe the fence should be torn down.
“I think beaches should be public. That’s my understanding of the law and I’m in favor of public access,” said Steve Adams.
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The question of whether these fences are on public or private land is a point of contention, but the county says other problems could arise.
“In all cases, the barriers that have been erected have been erected without permits. Whether they are erected on public beach property or not, property owners will likely need to take action,” Hendricks said.
No matter how you feel about this issue, everyone seems to agree on one thing: everyone should be able to enjoy the beach.
“We all love the beach, don’t we? Here I am with my son and my dog, running around, throwing Frisbees and chasing my dog. And that seems like something we should all have access to,” said Les Kruger.
The district expects to complete its investigation in the coming weeks.
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