Hollister's incumbent council was voted out, then passed a vast expansion of the city's sphere of influence as lame ducks. An referendum was threatened and, after three months, the new council pulled the plug -- threatening the city's ability to meet its RHNA obligations.

San Diego judge rules that Santee couldn't end-run a voter referendum by repealing approval and then passing an emergency ordinance moving the project forward. SB 330 was no help.

Limited-growth group's lawsuit against Expo Line Plan tossed out for being filed too early. But appellate court also said Expo Line Plan doesn't violate the Los Angeles General Plan's policy encouraging adequate infrastructure.

In ruling from Los Angeles, appellate court says that "local control has not been abrogated by the HAA.”

A dispute from the Livermore area suggests that general plan designations and zoning ordinances have not kept pace with renewable energy advances -- leading to interpretation disputes. In Livermore, the courts have sided with public agency interpretations and against environmentalists opposed to a solar project. 

If upheld on appeal, L.A. judge's ruling could completely upend the way cities interpret the consistence between general plans and zoning.

As a recent San Diego ruling reveals, cities have no choice but to defend their decisions to abide by statutes like the Density Bonus Law. At the same time, they are trying to "thread a needle" to challenge those laws in court.

Court also concludes the requirement calling for all roads to be built before any private development is constructed runs afoul of the Nollan/Dolan doctrine.

Lower court ruling invalidating initiative is overturned.