In August 1983, the California Coastal Conservancy announced an agreement to pay Hill $1 million for a conservation and scenic easement on on the east side of Highway 1, south of Little Sur River, and to purchase . Hill also agreed to donate the cost of a conservation easement on another . Hill retained the right to develop the remaining . There was considerable local opposition to the plan. Fifty Big Sur residents attended a meeting of the Coastal Commission in April 1985 to protest the deal with the Coastal Conservancy. The Big Sur Land Trust also voiced their opposition. The Big Sur Local Use Plan was under consideration by the California Coastal Commission, and the supervisors withdrew the plan. Hill's development deal was voted down by the commissioners in a vote of 10 to 1.
