The great thing about Private Islands is that you don’t have to worry about neighbours. Well not always. Residents on a Private Island in Newport Bay are suing the California Coastal Commission to keep their pedestrian bridge from opening to the general public.

The Los Angeles Times recently explained the dispute noting that the Coastal Commission contends that the Bay Island Club, an association of 24 homeowners on the tiny island by that name, must allow public access to the bridge if the club wants to replace the aging 130-foot span. It’s a classic example of the struggle between private landowners and state government, which since the 1976 passage of the California Coastal Act, has aggressively protected the public’s access to shorelines and waterways.

The city owns the  canal under the bridge and the Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously July 27   to support the islanders in court. The island is about halfway down the Balboa Peninsula.

Defendants of the island state: “Yes, it’s across public property,” said Councilman Don Webb. “But it really has no use other than coming on and off the island.”