Land Use, Environmental, and Real Estate Law in California
By William W. Abbott
The California Supreme Court has a number of cases on its docket for consideration in 2014 that are of interest to planners, local government officials, developers and community interest groups. These cases include both CEQA and land use considerations. Here are the summaries from the Court’s website:Continue Reading 2014 Court Watch
Peter Detwiler, the long time LAFCo policy wonk at the state capitol, has prepared a history of local agency formation commissions and has generously agreed to share it with the readers of this blog. Thank you Peter.
Abbott & Kindermann’s 13th Annual Land Use, Real Estate, and Environmental Law Update
Reserve your seat for one of four seminars taking place in 2014.
In February 2014 Abbott & Kindermann, LLP will present its 13th annual educational program for clients and colleagues interested in current land use, environmental, and real estate issues affecting commercial and residential development, agriculture, real estate transactions, easements, mining and the construction materials production industry.
A summary of 2013 case law and legislative updates includes the following hot topics for 2014:
By Katherine J. Hart
In Latinos Unidos de Napa v. City of Napa (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 192; 2013 Cal.App. LEXIS 893 (Latinos Unidos II), the Court of Appeals, First Appellate District, upheld the City of Napa’s (City) use of its 1998 Program EIR (prepared and certified for purposes of the City’s 2020 General Plan update) for the proposed 2009 Housing Element update, and related Land Use Element and zoning code amendments. More specifically, in updating its Housing Element, the City of Napa also amended its Land Use Element to (1) increase the minimum residential densities in seven areas zoned as mixed use or community commercial from 10 to 40 residential units per acre, (2) increase the permitted density for eight multi-family sites by a total of 88 units, as well as amended its zoning ordinance to comply with state laws regarding emergency shelters and various types of low-income housing, and to permit single-family detached homes at the same densities of single-family attached homes (the Project).Continue Reading NO NEW ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIRED TO INCREASE HOUSING DENSITIES IN CITY’S GENERAL PLAN
