Corte Madera homeowners sue town over disputed driveway
Wealthy owners of an 11‑acre estate in Corte Madera filed a lawsuit on October 11, 2026, alleging the town illegally blocked their plan to build a second driveway on a disputed strip of land known as Alta Way.
The homeowners say the driveway would create a vital escape route during wildfires, a concern amplified by the region’s growing fire risk. Neighbors, however, contend the project threatens the historic character of the community and could harm local wildlife, including an owl habitat monitored by the Marin Audubon Society.
The property, once owned by WeWork co‑founder Adam Neumann and music promoter Bill Graham, sold for $22.4 million in 2021 and is now valued at nearly $29 million, according to Zillow. The owners’ attorney, Todd Williams, told The San Francisco Chronicle the family’s property rights extend to the center of the disputed strip, which appears on a 1906 map but was never constructed as originally envisioned.
Williams argues the route has been maintained and used for more than four decades, supporting the claim that it effectively became part of the private estate. The proposed driveway would occupy half of a 40‑foot‑wide strip for about 120 feet, preserving public walking access while removing 47 trees, with plans to replant 37 of them.
Neighbors challenged the ownership claim, helping overturn an earlier project approval in 2024. The town’s community development director, Amy Lyle, said the municipality may have limited ability to halt the project, describing the dispute as a civil matter between property owners.
Tensions have escalated, with reports of threats and insults aimed at the homeowners. After a contentious meeting in which a comment involved the owners’ children, the family requested police presence, according to The Chronicle.
The lawsuit moves the conflict into the courts, where the town will defend its position on planning and environmental grounds. Both sides await a court date that could set a precedent for how historic, unbuilt routes are treated in future development disputes.
