State officials wouldn’t let these homeowners build a sea wall. Their lawsuit could reshape California’s coast Sea levels are rising, and what to do about homes and beaches in harm’s way is ...

It will all be on land that’s been built up by 5 feet and protected by a bolstered, remade sea wall to defend both the multibillion-dollar development and the homes behind it from climate change.

He said the point is to make the top of water-facing barrier 12ft above sea level, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the wall itself is 12 feet tall. “People say, ‘a sea wall.’ ...