And these days those people are especially worried.
That's because on Tuesday the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will rule on a project which aims to do just that - construct a single-family residence inside the stretch of grass and wildflowers alongside Highway 1 known as the Burnham Strip, an area which serves as El Granada's window to the Pacific Ocean.
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The commission ordered the developer to conduct an environmental impact report.
The developer, Wayne Impink, who could not be reached for comment, disagrees with the decision and is appealing it to the board of supervisors.
According to the planning commission staff report, some of the key issues to be addressed center around visual and land use impacts.
Staff found possibilities for:
The developer contends there will be no adverse environmental impacts.
He has submitted a negative declaration, a document stating there will be no impacts, which the commission deemed insufficient.
Impink is asking the board of supervisors to overturn the decision of the planning commission Tuesday by accepting the negative declaration.
"I don't know of anytime when the county of San Mateo has required an environmental impact report to build a house," said Dave Byers, an attorney representing the landowner, Robert Russi.
Contingent upon approval of the development, Impink is planning to purchase the land from Russi.
"It's a one-story house and that's about as visually unob-trusive as you can get," said Byers.
Open space advocates are opposed to the development and worry that it will not only obstruct views but will set a precedent for building in Burnham Strip.
Ric Lohman, an appellant, called approval of the project "a disaster."
"But at this point we're not even saying reject the project," said Lohman, "we're just saying perform an environmental impact report."
Leonard Woren, who is also opposed to the project, agreed with Lohman.
"This house represents ostensibly one more brick in the wall," said Woren.
"This is certainly an incremental impact, one house by itself yeah so no big deal, but a house in this spot is a big deal."
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