April 2014

On April 16, 2014, Miller Starr Regalia filed in the California Supreme Court a “neutral” amici brief – one in support of neither party – addressing the important “CEQA-in-reverse” issue presented in California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Supreme Court, Case No. S213478.  The brief was filed on behalf of Amici Curiae League of California Cities and the Counties of Tulare, Kings, and Solano.  Cities and counties frequently serve as lead agencies with respect to proposed projects under CEQA.  The League and the three counties identified the question presented in the case as having statewide significance.

The Amici brief (authored by myself and Matt Henderson) can be accessed at the League of California Cities’ website here http://www.cacities.org/Resources-Documents/Member-Engagement/Professional-Departments/City-Attorneys/Request-Amicus-Support/Recent-Filings/Briefs-(1)/California-Building-Indusry-Assn-v-Bay-Area-Air-QuContinue Reading Miller Starr Regalia Files Neutral “CEQA-in-Reverse” Case Amici Brief in California Supreme Court on Behalf of League of California Cities and Several Counties

In a lengthy opinion filed February 28, 2014, and ordered partially published on April 1, 2014, the Third District Court of Appeal reversed the Yolo County Superior Court’s judgment denying a CEQA writ petition challenging the City of Woodland’s EIR and related approvals of a 234-acre regional shopping center development – requiring an annexation application, pre-zoning, and a general plan amendment – on undeveloped agricultural land at the City’s periphery.  California Clean Energy Committee v. City of Woodland, 225 Cal.App.4th 173, 2014, Case No. C072033 (3d Dist. 2/28/14; part. pub. order 4/1/14).  In reversing and remanding to the trial court to grant plaintiff California Clean Energy Committee’s requested writ, the opinion didn’t break any significant new legal ground.  However, it did serve up a few reminders to local agencies and project developers of some CEQA basics, and also to be careful in framing your CEQA findings.
Continue Reading Some CEQA Reminders From The Third District: Urban Decay Requires Actual Mitigation When Identified By EIR As A Significant Project Impact – And Be Careful What You Find

In an exceptionally thorough and well-reasoned opinion, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s judgment denying a writ petition challenging respondent 14th District Agricultural Association’s (District) approval of a rodeo event to be held at the Santa Cruz County Fairground pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines’ Class 23 categorical exemption.  Citizens For Environmental Responsibility v. State of California ex rel 14th District Agricultural Association (3d Dist. 3/26/14) 224 Cal.App.4th 152, 17 Cal.Rptr.3d 8.  In doing so, the Court addressed and clarified important issues regarding (1) the scope of the Class 23 exemption for “normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings” (14 Cal. Code Reg., § 15323), (2) when alleged “mitigation” measures disqualify a project from utilizing a categorical exemption, and (3) operation of the “unusual circumstances” exception to categorical exemptions.  (14 Cal. Code Reg., § 15300.2(c).)
Continue Reading Third District Construes CEQA Guidelines’ Class 23 Categorical Exemption And “Unusual Circumstances” Exception In Rejecting Challenge To Watsonville Rodeo Event

In a lengthy, mostly published opinion filed on March 20, 2014, the Second District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s judgment granting a writ of mandate, and upheld – as against state law challenges brought by a bevy of environmental plaintiffs  – the EIS/EIR (EIR) and related resources management/conservation plan approvals of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) for the 12,000 acre Newhall Ranch Specific Plan site.  Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. Department of Fish and Wildlife (The Newhall Land and Farming Company, RPI) (2d Dist. 2014) 224 Cal.App.4th 1105, 169 Cal.Rptr.3d 413, No. B245131. Two decades into the planning process, the controversial Northwestern LA County project ultimately contemplates the massive development of five villages containing residential, mixed-use and non-residential land uses, with up to 21,308 dwelling units (and 57,903 residents), 629 acres of mixed use development, 67 acres of commercial uses, 249 acres of business park uses, and numerous other public and open space uses and amenities, to be built out over a 25 to 30 year period.  The land use approvals at issue in the case included a Resource Management and Development Plan, Spineflower Conservation Plan, associated Master Streambed Alteration Agreement, and related Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) issued by CDFW under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).  The 5,828 page EIR focused on the resource management and conservation plans required to be in place prior to the residential and commercial construction components of the project.
Continue Reading Second District Addresses Interesting CEQA and CESA Species Mitigation Issues in Lengthy Partially Published Opinion Upholding Resource Management and Conservation Approvals for Newhall Ranch Project, but “Hides its Work” on Significant Greenhouse Gas Issues in Unpublished Portion