In an unpublished decision, Save Desert Rose v. City of Encinitas, 2015 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7685, the Fourth Appellate District reversed the judgment of the trial court and held Save Desert Rose (Petitioner) failed to demonstrate that substantial evidence supported a fair argument that a proposed 16 single-family home subdivision project (Project) may have
Negative Declaration
When is Agency Action Considered a Project under CEQA? When the Legislature Says So.
In Rominger v. County of Colusa, 2014 Cal. App. LEXIS 813, the Court of Appeal for the Third District overturned the trial court and held a proposed subdivision approved by Colusa County was a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), even though the proposal did not include any specific plans for development. …
CEQA Document Adoption is a Distinct “Item of Business” to be Listed on Agency Meeting Agenda
The Merced County Planning Commission (the Commission) posted an agenda for an upcoming meeting that set forth, as one item of business, the Commission’s potential approval of a subdivision application to divide 380.45 acres into nine parcels (the project). The agenda failed to mention that the Commission would also be considering whether to adopt a…
A Dark Day for Hoover High School – Court Finds Mitigated Negative Declaration for Stadium Improvements Inadequate
In a decision that was ordered published on April 25, 2013, Taxpayers for Accountable School Bond Spending v. San Diego Unified School District (March 26, 2013) 2013 Cal.App.LEXIS 324, the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, held that a high school could not use general obligation bond revenue to pay for new stadium lighting because…
Court Silences Petitioner’s Challenge to a Negative Declaration
In an unpublished decision, Stahovich v. City of Anaheim (2012) 2012 Cal.App.Unpub.LEXIS 9465, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s denial of a writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory relief against the City of Anaheim (City). Arthur E. Stahovich filed a petition alleging the City violated the California Environmental Quality Act…
Petitioners Have the Burden of Proof to Establish Substantial Evidence Supporting a Fair Argument that a Project May Have a Significant Effect on the Environment
In an unpublished decision, Agriculture, Business & Labor Education Coalition of San Luis Obispo County v. County of San Luis Obispo, 2012 Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 7948, the Second Appellate District upheld the trial court’s decision that an environmental group did not meet its burden of proof to show the County’s proposed amendments to the…
Schenck v. County of Sonoma (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 949
The County of Sonoma (County) approved a development project for a warehouse and beverage distribution center. Prior to approving the project, the County conducted an initial study and issued a mitigated negative declaration (MND). The trial court held that the County had failed to send necessary notice to the Bay Area AQMD (BAAQMD) prior to…
South Orange County Wastewater Authority v. City of Dana Point (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1604
The City of Dana Point (City) approved a mixed-use development project next to a sewage treatment plant. The City conducted an initial study and prepared a mitigated negative declaration (MND) after finding that all potential environmental impacts of the project could be mitigated to a less than significant level. The Wastewater Authority (Petitioner) challenged the…
Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Developments v. City of Chula Vista (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 327
The City of Chula Vista (City) approved a proposed Target retail store in reliance on a mitigated negative declaration (MND). Petitioner filed a petition for writ of mandate challenging the MND and claiming that the project may have significant impacts relating to hazardous materials, air pollution, particulate matter and ozone, and greenhouse gas emissions. The…
Save the Plastic Bag Coalition v. City of Manhattan Beach (2011) 52 Cal. 4th 155
An association of plastic bag manufacturers challenged the city’s negative declaration, claiming the city’s ordinance prohibiting the distribution of plastic bags would have significant environmental impacts resulting from an increased use of paper bags, and thus alleged an environmental impact report (EIR) was required. The California Supreme Court issued a decision addressing two issues. First,…