Daly City opens code case after fence blocks long-standing Thornton Beach access
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Summary
Daly City code enforcement opened a formal case and issued a notice of violation for a fence on Olympic Way that residents say blocks decades of public access to trails and the beach; the owner was given 10 days to produce permits and site documents while the city coordinates an inspection with the California Coastal Commission.
Daly City code enforcement has opened a formal case and issued a notice of violation after residents complained that a recently erected fence on Olympic Way near Ocean View Stables is blocking a historical public access route to Thornton Beach.
"A code enforcement case has been opened, and I am actively working on this matter," said Anna Santiago, the city’s code enforcement officer, who told the council staff requested permits, site plans and a survey from the property owner and allowed 10 days for compliance. Santiago said the city will coordinate a site inspection and boundary review with the California Coastal Commission before taking any further action.
Why it matters: Residents and equestrian users say the fence prevents use of trails that have existed for decades and may interfere with a prescriptive public easement. Several speakers at the council meeting described safety and accessibility problems for older residents and children when the primary entry point is blocked.
At the Jan. 26 meeting, Ocean View Stables co-owner Tony Casares told the council the fence is not owned or erected by their business. "That fence has nothing to do with our business," he said, asking the city to distinguish the private landowner from the stable operators who rely on trail access. His business partner, Zachary Layden, also described their community programs and equestrian use of the trails.
Santiago told council the alleged violations under review include construction of a fence without a required permit, possible encroachment into public right-of-way, obstruction of a public or equestrian trail, and development within a coastal resource protection zone without a coastal development permit. She also reported the city received complaints about posted signage near the fence that some residents described as intimidating; staff said there is an alleged threat connected to the site that is under monitoring but that no criminal charges had been filed.
Next steps: City staff have asked the property owner for documentation and will conduct an inspection in coordination with the California Coastal Commission and planning and legal teams. The owner was given 10 days to submit the requested information; staff said they will verify facts through inspection before any additional enforcement action.
Community reaction: Multiple residents urged immediate enforcement of leash and waste laws and flagged an apparent growth in commercial dog-walking in the area that they say has degraded the park’s environment. "[The commercial dog-walking industry] has turned our neighborhood and adjacent park into an unregulated commercial dog park," said Tori Jacobs, a neighbor who urged stepped-up enforcement.
The council thanked staff and the police department for the prompt response and said it would notify the public of developments. The city did not announce a timetable for subsequent enforcement actions beyond the 10-day compliance window and the planned inspection.
