The Latest: Crowds pack meeting on California coastal land

The Latest on a hearing over a development proposed for a vast tract of oil land on Southern California's coast (all times local):

9:35 am

Several hundred people have packed a hearing in Newport Beach on a plan to build homes and a hotel on a vast stretch of Southern California coastline.

Opponents to the 895 home-development carried signs urging the California Coastal Commission to protect the 401-acre property in upscale Newport Beach and burrowing owls that nest there.

Supporters of the development attended the meeting wearing T-shirts backing the plan to build

The site known as Banning Ranch is considered to be the largest remaining privately-held coastal property that could be developed south of Los Angeles.

For decades, the property has been drilled for oil. While the development proposal would restore and preserve about 80 percent of the land as open space, environmental advocates want a larger chunk of land protected.

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12:02 am

A hotly-contested proposal to build homes on a stretch of Southern California coastline that provides wildlife habitat is up for public discussion Wednesday.

The California Coastal Commission will hold a hearing in Newport Beach on Wednesday on the plan to build 895 homes, a 75-room hotel and retail complex on the 401-acre site long used for oil drilling.

A Commission spokeswoman says Banning Ranch is considered to be the largest remaining, privately-held coastal property that could be developed south of Los Angeles.

While the plan would preserve roughly 80 percent of the property as open space, environmentalists want a much larger chunk protected.

Commission staff members want developers to confine building to 20 acres to protect habitat for the burrowing owl.