After four decades of legal battles, the California government has succeeded in forcing two wealthy landlords to make Malibu's public Escondido Beach accessible to the general public. Currently, visitors need to pay for parking or walk through a restaurant half-a-mile away. The landowners will be fined and required to build a public access point, restroom, and parking lot for visitors. Former landlords inaccurately recorded an easement with the commission and installed a fence, driveways, and adjusted a lot line that limited access. The conservancy tried to reopen access points, but neighbours separately sued and argued they inherited the situation. The families have now come to an agreement on how to handle it, estimated to cost several million dollars before the fine.