September 2004

by William W. Abbott

A new court decision affirms the adequacy of an EIR prepare in response to an application by Pluto Development, Inc, the development arm of Wal-Mart. Pluto submitted an application to the Town of Apple Valley (long time home of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Trigger, Roy’s trusty horse, for those of you under the age of 50). After preparation of an EIR, the Town Council approved the project, based upon a statement of overriding considerations. The project approval was subsequently challenged in court by a desert environmental group and the California Attorney General. The appellate court decision wrestled with several common EIR problems, and resolved all of them in favor of the lead agency.
Continue Reading Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, and Wal-Mart is from Pluto