San Mateo County cites Aenlle for coast property

Violations included failure to obtain a coastal development permit, a planned agricultural district permit, as well as building, fire and environmental health permits. 

Aenlle did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication. 

Aenlle’s involvement in the property was first reported in October, and in response he attempted to recuse himself from any culpability — “no responsibility falls on the owner,” he said previously. 

The property of concern is owned by Aenlle as part of a trust, though it is operated by the Contreras family for their family farm business through an agricultural lease. The Contreras Farm has operated at the site for more than 40 years. 

Aenlle previously suggested tying his name to the concern of living conditions at the property was “dirty and bad politics.”

The agriculture lease means the Contreras family is responsible for the property’s maintenance, but Aenlle, as the property owner, is responsible for code compliance. Aenlle is listed as the sole recipient of the citation.

Aenlle, as a former member of Sheriff Christina Corpus’ executive team, is a key figure of concern in the investigation into the Sheriff’s Office’s administration that has resulted in the current underway election that could lead to Corpus’ removal.  

In October, Aenlle said he would “make sure that it’s done” and become in compliance with zoning regulations and permit requests. 

The first initial notice Aenlle and his attorneys received from the county was issued Sept. 27, 2024. Notices outlined violations identified, a timeline for correcting these concerns, and scheduled check in to make sure corrections were complete. 

Failure to meet updated deadlines for permit applications by Jan. 31 resulted in the citation. 

The property was deemed uninhabitable by the county’s Farmworker Housing Task Force, which recently completed its final report after investigating the quality of habitat for farm laborers in unincorporated parts of the county.