The northern California city of Half Moon Bay is facing a $41 million payout to a developer who sued when he was unable to build a subdivision on beachfront land. While development suits are nothing new in coastal California, this case highlights some complicated questions about what defines a protected wetland -- and how much financial exposure a small community can withstand.
Please ensure that all comments adhere to our community guidelines. We reserve the right to edit or remove comments that do not follow these guidelines.