One of the houses proposed by Edge in Malibu

A U.S lawyer has said U2’s The Edge should shelve plans to build a €100 million Malibu home complex on unspoiled land - after the star’s housing bid was blocked by environmentalists.

The 57-year-old singer whose real name is David Evans, has been trying unsuccessfully to build five luxury properties in Malibu named ‘Leaves in the Wind’.

But as the project has already taken 14 years - and has now been stalled in court by environmentalists - the time is right to move on, an attorney involved in the case stated.

Dean Walraff, environmental attorney, who represented in court environmental group, the Sierra Club, told Independent.ie that he believes Mr Evans would be wise to move on after the legal decision.

The 640,000 member Sierra Club sued Mr Evans two years ago, according to reports, over the development but they lost that time.

However they appealed the verdict and have just succeeded in stopping the progression of the plans in the California Court of Appeal, who issued a decision in the group’s favour.

The original court ruling was reversed and now it seems, Mr Evans will have to go back to square one with his property plans in Malibu.

Mr Walraff told Independent.ie; "It’s a pretty horrible project, five ultra luxurious houses in open space, visible from everywhere. At 10,000 square feet, they are huge.

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"This project would lead to the building of a huge road on an unstable hillside.

"I don’t know why The Edge and his investment partners thought they’d be able to build something on this site.

"Now the developers have to go back and reapply to the county and do a big environmental impact report.

"The fact you could see the project all over the place is why this was opposed.

"It would be a blot in Malibu where we want this area to be parkland.

"I think The Edge and his investment partners should move on. We could probably arrange for the sale of the land.

"He and his partners will only go back to square one and they’ll be in almost the same position as when they bought the land.

"And there’s a good chance this won’t be approved and if they are, we will only go back to court to oppose it again.

"If I were Mr Evans I’d think am I going to spend another two years on a new approval project and then have to go to court again. He has to think is this worth it to keep going with this thing?”

Stan Lamport, Mr Evans attorney, was not available for comment last night but the Irish Independent was sent court papers detailing the case.

The environmental group argued that the area where Mr Evans planned his housing project, was a "mountain ridge rising from steep canyons...areas of exclusively native and endangered species of vegetation" …where "major wildlife networks exist, as do popular hiking trails".

The range is also subject to catastrophic wildfires..within the very high fire hazard severity zone, the most dangerous classification for wildlife safety purposes."

And it added that; "Approximately half of the mountainous region is held in state and federal parks and recreation areas…"

Mr Evans paid over €7m for the untouched land at Sweetwater Mesa overlooking Malibu pier. The land is inhabited by rattlesnakes, lizards, deer and the odd coyote.

The guitarist and his LA-born wife, Morleigh Steinberg are passionate about the area due to its amazing panoramic views.

The couple felt it would make the ideal private bolthole for family and friends.

LA architect Wallace Cunningham with engineers and geologists, designed the plans for the homes complete with swimming pools.

However when the public became aware of the plans - including three houses which would be over 12,000 square feet - a reaction against the properties began.

Before the latest court date, Mr Evans had stated he would provide over 140 acres of his 151 acres for public use in a bid to satisfy environmentalists.

And he reportedly said he would also donate almost €1m to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to construct and maintain a hiking trail for the public.

Online Editors