The state Assembly yesterday passed a bill that could help resolve the battle over public access to Martins Beach, just south of Half Moon Bay, which was closed when a billionaire bought property along the beach.
The bill, authored by State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, and co-authored by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, would allow the state to seize the road to the beach that billionaire Vinod Khosla closed in 2009. The bill would create a new account for the State Lands Commission so that it could accept outside donations to pay for the road, which would be seized through eminent domain. Khosla has said he wants $30 million in exchange for public access to the beach.