A private fence that blocked public access to Thornton State Beach in Daly City began coming down Friday, a San Mateo County supervisor said.
Supervisor David J. Canepa said workers began removing the illegal 8-foot-fence after weeks of dispute.
“The coast belongs to the public,” Canepa said on social media. “Today we reclaimed access and upheld the law.”
The fence, erected by a private landowner, was erected last month and sported a hand-drawn sign with an image of a gun warning that trespassers would be shot.
Daly City officials said Jan. 31 the fence was installed without required permits and appeared to extend into parts of the public right-of-way, interfering with long-established coastal access.
Canepa said the fence was put up as developers proposed building on the land.
The fence obstructed the trail down to the beach from Olympic Way and threatened emergency access to the oceanfront, he said.