Between Rocks and a Hard Place : Faria Beach: The state sues residents for using boulders as shields from surf. They say they had to act fast to save homes.

Residents of the Faria Beach community, who have been trying for years to protect their property from pounding waves during violent weather, have been sued a second time by the state for placing giant rocks along the shore to break the surf.

Although the members of the beach community say they are well aware of the state’s objections, they said they placed the boulders on the beach as a last-ditch effort to save their slice of paradise along the Pacific.

The controversy erupted about seven years ago, after a violent storm sent a wall of water into residents’ homes. But the issue came up again earlier this week, when the California Lands Commission filed a lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court alleging that the residents did not get the necessary permits to place the rocks on the beach.

The Lands Commission joins the California Coastal Commission in demanding that residents remove the boulders. A Coastal Commission lawsuit filed against the homeowners about five years ago is still pending.

Lindsay F. Nielson, a Ventura attorney representing 26 homeowners named in the state suits, said the residents did not intend to break government rules. But, he said, they had to make a choice between saving their homes or wading through government red tape to get a permit for the rocks.

“The residents said, ‘We’re going to save our homes and we’ll talk about it later,’ ” Nielson said.

He said the residents have since tried to get the proper permits from the state but that their requests have been turned down or left unanswered.

Nielson said the homeowners will remove the rocks, if necessary, but something else will need to be done to protect their real estate.

The giant boulders are piled intermittently along the shoreline in front of 11 homes. The rocks have been a good way of slowing the waves and keeping what is left of the beach from eroding away, Nielson said.

Carolyn Leavens, a beach resident and former chairwoman of Gov. Pete Wilson’s Ventura County campaign, said she stood by helplessly in 1983 as a storm destroyed her next-door neighbor’s home. After that, Leavens and her husband, Paul, decided to take action.

“The high tides just kept coming in, and we decided we had to do something,” Leavens said. “We didn’t even think we would be in violation of anything. We were thinking in terms of protecting our property.”

Deborah Barker, another resident who has rocks in front of her house, agreed.

“Ever since we put the rocks out there we have felt pretty safe,” Barker said.

But state officials say the coast dwellers must adhere to state regulations to put rocks on the beach.

“They didn’t get a permit, and that’s the problem,” said Nancy Cave, code enforcement coordinator for the Coastal Commission.

Blake Stevenson, staff counsel for the state Lands Commission, said he questions the safety of having the rocks on the beach, which is often used by surfers.

“Some of the rocks may not be properly engineered and someone could get hurt,” Stevenson said. “All those things would need to be assessed before a license for the rocks is given.”

Nevertheless, Nielson said, residents are frustrated that the state has not been more understanding.

“When you sit in an ivory tower, it is not the same as a wave coming through your living room,” Nielson said.