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CEQA
1,312 published works
California Land Use & Development Law Report
Location Exception to CEQA’s Categorical Exemptions Applies Only to Designated Environmental Resources Affected by The Project
The location exception to CEQA’s categorical exemptions does not apply to earthquake and landslide hazard zones, as they are not “environmental resources” that would be affected by a project. Berkeley…
Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law Blog
Following Suit – City of Los Angeles Updates CEQA Guide to Include VMT Methodology Ahead of State-Imposed Deadline
By Alfred Fraijo Jr., Justin Mahramas
On July 30, 2019, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved an update to the “Transportation” section of the City’s California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Threshold Guide. City Council’s action…
Land Use Law Blog
2019 CEQA 2nd QUARTER REVIEW
By William W. Abbott, Diane G. Kindermann, Glen C. Hansen
Welcome to Abbott & Kindermann’s 2019 2nd Quarter cumulative CEQA update. This summary provides links to more in-depth case write-ups on the firm’s blog. The case names of the newest…
CEQA Developments
“Baseline” Basics: Second District Rejects CEQA Challenge To Hollywood Hotel Project MND Alleging Unanalyzed Human/Housing Displacement Impacts Because Plaintiffs Relied On Incorrect Environmental Baseline
In an opinion originally filed June 28, and later certified for partial publication on July 22, 2019 (upon the request of the California Building Industry Association), the Second District Court…
Land Use Developments
Court Rejects Land Use Consistency Challenge to Sacramento Mixed-Use Project Providing “Significant Community Benefits”
On July 18, 2019, in Sacramentans for Fair Planning v. City of Sacramento, __ Cal.App.5th __ (2019), the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court decision denying a…
Land Use Law Blog
A Programmatic EIR in Search of a Project Approval: When is it Ripe for Judicial Review?
By William W. Abbott & Kristen Kortick Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of Conservation, etc. (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 210. The question “how much is enough?” for programmatic EIRs remains…
CEQA Developments
The Curious Case of the EIR Without A “Project”: Third District Rejects CEQA, Statutory Challenges To DOGGR’s “Unique” S.B. 4-Mandated EIR Analyzing Statewide Fracking/Well Stimulation Impacts
In a 38-page opinion filed on May 16, and belatedly ordered published on June 14, 2019, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s judgment rejecting all of…
CEQA Developments
Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument In CEQA Project Definition Case
The California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an important case we’ve been following involving CEQA’s definition of a “project” on the afternoon of June 4, 2019, and took the matter…
CEQA Developments
Supreme Court Schedules Argument In CEQA Project Definition Case
On May 15, 2019, the California Supreme Court announced it would hear oral argument in Union of Medical Marijuana Patients v. City of San Diego (California Coastal Commission), Case No.…
Environment, Land & Resources
CEQA Case Report: Understanding the Judicial Landscape for Development
2018 Year in Review: Public agencies prevailed in 65% of CEQA cases analyzed. By James L. Arnone, Marc T. Campopiano, Christopher W. Garrett, and Lucinda Starrett Over the course of…