With all the controversy and backlash over U2’s free download of their new album “Songs of Innocence” guitarist The Edge could use some good news, and he got it this week. According to Pollstar, Dave Evans, better known as The Edge, is closer to being able to build his cluster of mansions in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Evans has been battling environmentalists and neighbors since 2007 to fulfill his coastal compound dream. A more scaled down version of Evans’ vision is more likely to get approval from The California Coastal Commission:
“From Day 1, I had told these guys that the one way to get to approval” was to make these changes, said Jack Ainsworth, the commission’s senior deputy director. “And here we are back at that same place many years later.”
The project still needs approval by the full commission, which is scheduled to vote next month.
Neighbors had complained the project would ruin their views, and environmentalists said it would harm habitat. The commission staff said the homes would mar an undeveloped ridgeline visible from the coast and destroy vegetation.
The staff also asserted that Evans attempted to circumvent environmental rules by submitting five applications under different corporate names.

The red circle shows the California hillside where The Edge wants to build his home Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1165577/Strife-Edge-U2-guitarist-condemned-30m-home-branded-green-disaster.html#ixzz3DxoGV3W7 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Lobbyists for Evans unsuccessfully pushed a bill in Sacramento that would have made it easier to develop the parcel. A Senate committee rejected the bill after environmentalists said it was a power grab by developers and special interests
The revised plans are dramatically different, and the homes, including one for the musician, would be built into hillside contours, a project spokeswoman said.

An artistic impression of how the development might look
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1374153/U2-guitarist-The-Edges-plans-build-FIVE-Malibu-mountain-homes-infuriates-locals.html#ixzz3Dz0Eoxg7
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