Articles

Subscribe to Articles via RSS

On September 19, 2016, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016 Stats., ch. 395), which is designed to address short-lived climate pollutants (“SLCPs”), including methane gas. In SB 1383, the Legislature found that (1) SLCPs are “powerful climate forcers that have a dramatic and detrimental effect on air quality, public health, and…

In 2016, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas issued this warning about legislative exactions: “Until we decide this issue, property owners and local governments are left uncertain about what legal standard governs legislative ordinances and whether cities can legislatively impose exactions that would not pass muster if done administratively.” He stated there are “compelling reasons…

By William W. Abbott, Diane Kindermann, Glen Hansen, Brian Russell and Dan Cucchi

Welcome to Abbott & Kindermann’s 2017 1st Quarter 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 start with Section 3 and are denoted by bold italic fonts.…

Appellate court rejects arguments of multiple CEQA claims of procedural error concerning EIR recirculation, error in the notice of determination, insufficient rejection of suggested mitigation measures, and failure to consider late comments.

Residents Against Specific Plan 380 v. County of Riverside (February 14, 2017, E063292) ___ Cal.App.5th ___.

By William W. Abbott

A trial court…

By Daniel S. Cucchi

City of San Jose v. Superior Court (March 2, 2017, S218066) ___ Cal.5th ___.

Citing the need to broaden the definition of “public records” to address the “evolving methods of electronic communication,” a unanimous California Supreme Court reversed the Sixth District Court of Appeal, holding that communications related to the “conduct…

By Daniel S. Cucchi

Hernandez v. Town of Apple Valley (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 194

In 2011, the Town of Apple Valley (the “Town”) circulated a local initiative called the “Wal-Mart Initiative Measure,” or in some cases the “Wal-Mart Supercenter Ballot Initiative,” which was subsequently declared null and void. Two years later, the Town noticed a…

By Diane G. Kindermann and Daniel S. Cucchi

In his Executive Order, President Trump directs the EPA and USACE to clarify the 2015 Waters of the United States (“WOTUS”) Rule and in doing so, to take into consideration Justice Scalia’s 2006 Supreme Court opinion in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006).

In…

Class Description

Stay up-to-date on recent developments in California law affecting land use, planning and environmental compliance. Experts from the field provide succinct and practical analysis on recent case law and significant legislative and administrative changes that took effect this year.

Topics Include:

  • General plans, specific plans and zoning
  • The Subdivision Map Act
  • CEQA
  • Changes

…