Briefly

The state’s buyout effort of a San Francisco developer who had hoped

to build a luxury resort at Crystal Cove will resume today at a Coastal

Conservancy meeting.

The seven-member state environmental agency is set to consider

unhooking $2 million from its budget to end Michael Freed’s development

at a 9 a.m. meeting today.

The money would go toward buying back development rights from Freed,

who signed a contract with California State Parks in 1997 to build the

resort at Crystal Cove State Park.

Gov. Gray Davis, in a Feb. 16 statement, called on staff members in

his administration to find money for the buyout. California Resources

Secretary Mary Nichols, a Davis Cabinet member, sits on the conservancy.

The meeting will be held at the Laguna Beach City Council chambers,

505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.