A property owner who built without a permit claimed the Coastal Commission didn't review the project with objective standards. An appellate court said subjective standards are embedded in the law -- especially with regard to views.
The Surf City claimed that its 14th Amendment rights were violated by the RHNA process -- and claimed it could sue because it is a charter city and not a "subdivision of the state". A federal judge disagreed.
Mining interests challenged Ventura County's new ordinance. But an appellate court said projects subject to CEQA exemptions 7 and 8 don't have to protect the entire environment, only specific natural resources.
In an unpublished case, an appellate court strikes down an environmental group's challenge to parking reform in San Diego. The court relied partly on SB 743 to uphold a CEQA exemption for the ordinance.
Defeat turns on whether site inventory and density calculations are realistic. City plans to appeal, but further loss could help builder's remedy applications.
In a new lawsuit, the developer claims the city stalled the application so long it amounted to a denial. The city claims it is processing the developer's builder's remedy application.
By taking a development fee case from El Dorado County, the U.S. Supreme Court may have the chance to narrow current limitations on exactions -- or get rid of them altogether.
In latest Fanita Ranch skirmish, appellate court says conservation easements and better land management are sufficient mitigation for lost gnatcatcher habitat.
Salinas school districts argued that they'd never be able to build planned schools and so additional environmental analysis needed to be conducted about the impact. They lost.
