The Coastal Act establishes policies guiding development and conservation along California’s coast, and its intent is to “protect, maintain, and where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural and artificial resources.” John McClendon has successfully represented non-profit community organizations along with commercial entities that are concerned about proposed coastal development projects and the impacts of those projects.  Representing one of the last remaining Bay Area hotels providing affordable “ocean view” rooms for traveling families, John successfully argued for reducing the visual impacts of a proposed beach side commercial development to preserve both the access and views of the water of this family friendly hotel.  John also successfully represented the Banning Ranch Conservancy before the California Supreme Court, preventing development of an environmental sensitive habitat area within a local coastal zone.