Supervisors deny Oscar Braun’s tunnel appeal

Oscar’s Braun’s appeal of the Devil’s Slide tunnel was denied by the San Mateo Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning.

But that’s not the end of the matter by any means. Braun plans to take his case to the Coastal Commission and, if he fails there, to Federal court. According to the San Mateo Times, Supervisor Rich Gordon says that the Coastal Commission staff is prepared to recommend full approval of the project to the commission itself.

Braun says that the tunnel will damage wetlands and violate the county’s Local Coastal Plan. The county maintains that the damage is mitigated by increased access to the coast—a peculiar tradeoff. Braun says that his appeal will result not only in cancellation of the tunnel, but in prosecutions.

Until the appeal process is complete, Caltrans cannot get its Coastal Development Permit, the last piece of paperwork it needs to put the $275 million project up for bid.