By William W. Abbott, Diane Kindermann, Katherine J. Hart, Glen Hansen and Brian Russell

Welcome to Abbott & Kindermann’s 2013 CEQA update. It is cumulative for the year, with the newest cases issued in the 4th quarter shown in bold type faceClick here to access the complete update.

To read our prior annual reviews, click here: 2012; 2011; 2010.

Table of Contents

I.       COURT WATCH: CEQA Cases Pending at the California Supreme Court

II.     CEQA TIMING

A.    City of Irvine v. County of Orange (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 846. (Page 2)

B.    California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 1171. (Page 2)

C.    Neighbors for Fair Planning v. City and County of San Francisco (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 540. (Page 2)

III.   EXEMPTIONS

A.    Golden Gate Land Holding, LLC v. East Bay Regional Park District (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 353. (Page 3)

B.    Tuolumne Jobs & Small Business Alliance v. Superior Court 210 Cal.App.4th 1006. (Page 6)

C.    Concerned Dublin Citizens v. City of Dublin (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1301. (Page 6)

D.    Michael May v. City of Milpitas (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 1307. (Page 7)

E.     Save the Plastic Bag Coalition v. County of Marin 218 Cal.App.4th 209. (Page 8)

IV. NEGATIVE DECLARATIONS

A.    Parker Shattuck Neighbors v. Berkeley City Council (2013) ___ Cal.App.4th ___. (Page 9)

B.    Taxpayers for Accountable School Bond Spending v. San Diego Unified School District (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1013. (Page 9)

V.    ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS

A.    Latinos Unidos de Napa v. City of Napa (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 192. (Page 11)

B.    San Diego Citizenry Group v. County of San Diego (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1. (Page 12)

C.    Neighbors for Smart Rail v. Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (2013) 57 Cal.4th 439. (Page 15)

D.    Friends of Oroville v. City of Oroville (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 832. (Page 17)

E.     Masonite Corporation v. County of Mendocino (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 230. (Page 17)

F.     Save Panoche Valley v. San Benito County (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 503. (Page 20)

G.    North Coast Rivers Alliance et al. v. Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 614. (Page 22)

H.    Save Cuyama Valley v. County of Santa Barbara(2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 1059. (Page 27)

I.      South County Citizens for Smart Growth v. County of Nevada (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 316. (Page 28)

VI. FUNCTIONALLY EQUIVALENT CEQA PROCEEDINGS

A.   POET, LLC v. State Air Resources Board (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th. 681. (Page 30)

VII.          LITIGATION

A.    California Clean Energy Committee v. City of San Jose (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 1325. (Page 30)

B.    Citizens for Ceres v. Superior Court (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 889. (Page 31)

C.    San Joaquin Raptor Rescue Center v. County of Merced (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 1167. (Page 32)

D.    Comunidad En Accion v. Los Angeles City Council (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1116. (Page 33)

E.     Alliance for the Protection of the Auburn Community Environment v. County of Placer (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 25. (Page 33)

VIII.        LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES

A.    SB 743. (Page 35)

B.    CEQA Guidelines. (Page 35)