U2 guitarist The Edge has received approval from the state of California to go ahead with a controversial housing project to build five houses on a ridge in Malibu, Los Angeles, Calif., according to The Los Angeles Times.
The California Coastal Commission on Thursday approved the guitarist's proposal after a unanimous vote at a meeting in Monterey in spite of objections from environmental organizations and local leaders. The project underwent a series of changes after its original proposal was dismissed in 2011.
The Edge, whose real name is David Evans, purchased the property in 2005 and has been trying get the state's nod for the project for several years. The project proposed the construction of five houses in the Sweet Mesa area, each house measuring more than 10,000 square feet and equipped with its own swimming pool.
The new design of the project will use 43 percent less space than the initial 2011 proposal. The houses will also be built on a lower plateau as opposed to higher up on the ridgeline as per the original plan and the mansions will be made in such a way that they blend in with the environment. The use of the glass in the project has also been minimized in order to reduce glare. Evans has also agreed to set aside 140 acres of the land for open space for hiking and equestrian access.
Environmental groups and local leaders, including Sen. Fran Pavley, a known environmentalist, opposed the housing project in spite of the changes made to its design, saying that it would impinge on natural wildlife habitats, according to Reuters.
"This development requires extensive and significant infrastructure, which would cause unmitigable impacts to a biologically sensitive area and our coastal zone environment," said Katherine Pease, watershed scientist for the non-profit Heal the Bay, in a letter addressed to the commission.
Evans thanked the commission "for all their thoughtful feedback and guidance throughout this long process - it has inherently driven better home designs and ensured protection of Malibu's natural resources," according to Billboard.
"From day one," he added, "my intention was to build a home of the very highest possible standard of environmental sensitivity and sustainability. Together, this collaborative effort has achieved that goal."
The project proposal will have to be handed down to officials in Malibu and Los Angeles county before Evans' can obtain the necessary licenses and paperwork for the development.
