Boatworks, LLC v. City of Alameda (2019) 35 Cal. App. 5th 290.
In 2014, the City of Alameda adopted updated Development Impact Fees pursuant to the Mitigation Fee Act (“MFA”), including fees for park acquisition and improvement. A property owner/developer (“Boatworks”) timely filed a facial challenge to the park fee and the trial court
California Charter Schools Association v. City of Huntington Park 2019 Cal.App. LEXIS 444.
Cities and counties frequently rely upon Government Code section 65858 to control land uses in the face of a regulatory or policy update. An interim ordinance can be adopted following minimum notice and hearing procedures. The initial ordinance is effective for
By William W. Abbott & Kristen Kortick
In 2014, real parties Forest City California Residential Development and Hearst Communications, Inc. (collectively “real parties”) sought to redevelop the San Francisco Chronicle building and surrounding structures and parcels
1305 Ingraham, LLC v. City of Los Angeles, (2019) 32 Cal.App. 5th 1253
On June 15, 2016, the City of Los Angeles (“the City”) issued a “Specific Plan Compliance Review Density Bonus & Affordable Housing Incentives” (the “Determination”) for a mixed-use affordable housing project. The Determination provided that it would become final unless an appeal
Riding the backdraft of the many high value tech based IPOs anticipated in 2019, a pair of Stanford dropouts (does anyone ever graduate from Stanford University anymore?) announced a new startup: “LOFFS”. This web based application which will any turn any spare space (an unfinished attic, the top bunk in your kid’s room, the backseat
Readers of this blog know that CEQA reform is an issue near and dear to the firm. While many share our interest, apparently the Legislature believes in CEQA reform only for businesses involved in major league
By William Abbott and Kristen Kortick
Berkeley Hills Watershed Coalition v. City of Berkeley (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th 880.
Real parties filed for approvals to construct three homes on contiguous parcels in Berkeley hills. The City Board of Zoning Adjustment found that the proposed construction qualified for a Class 3 exemption (new construction of
Welcome to Abbott & Kindermann, Inc.’s 2018 Annual CEQA update. This summary provides links to more in-depth case write-ups on the firm’s blog. The case names of the newest decisions are denoted by bold italic fonts.
A. 2017 CEQA Update
To read the 2017 cumulative CEQA review, click here:
B. Cases Pending
There are
On December 28, 2018, the Natural Resources Agency adopted the final text to a comprehensive update to CEQA. Significant changes to the regulations include addressing global climate change and the affordable housing shortage. Significant improvements include proactive analysis of impacts for wildfires, greenhouse gas emissions, and transportation impacts. Climate change benchmarks within the guidelines were
High Sierra Rural Alliance v. County of Plumas, 2018 Cal.App. LEXIS 1032.
While challenges facing California’s urban centers are the focus of most planning policy gatherings, the fact is that on a geographic basis, most of California is not urban. Moreover, the economic engine which is responsible for creating new jobs and housing
