The Supreme Court's closely divided decision backing the use of eminent domain for economic development gives state and local governments a qualified boost in what property rights advocates promise to be continuing challenges to the practice in state courts. >>read more

A proposed golf course and housing development amid the imperiled Monterey pines of Pebble Beach's Del Monte Forest has set up a confrontation between Monterey County and the California Coastal Commission. >>read more

Property owners who contend that the government has taken their property without just compensation must press their monetary claims in state court and might never get to argue in federal court.

For nearly seven years, the controversy over school impact fees has appeared to be an issue of the past. However, skirmishes have broken out in Merced County that could presage an end to the statewide peace regarding school fees. >>read more

The California Coastal Commission has survived one of most direct assaults on its existence since the Commission's establishment in 1976. Property owners, who have chafed for years at the Coastal Commission's land use restrictions, had hoped to have the Commission's makeup declared unconstitutional, but the California Supreme Court unanimously upheld the current system in a ruling issued June 23.

This month's selection of In Brief items includes: Local initiative in Napa County copies Oregon's Measure 37; Fresno County Grand Jury recommends a building moratorium pending the location of proven water sources; Marin County sues the state Department of Corrections over construction of new San Quentin death row; The City of Mission Viejo drops its lawsuit against Rancho Mission Viejo development plan; and more... >>read more

A few weeks ago, property rights advocates lost three big court cases. It's not unusual for June to be an important month for legal opinions because the U.S. Supreme Court wraps up its work before going on summer hiatus. But it is usual for property owners to go oh-for-June. >>read more

The saga of public access to a beach adjacent to entertainment mogul David Geffen's house in Malibu has apparently concluded, with public access secure. >>read more

A redevelopment plan covering more than 10,000 acres in San Jose has been upheld by the Sixth District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the city had proven that blight existed in the six sub-areas of the project. >>read more

Approval of a tentative parcel map does not prevent zoning changes from applying to the subdivision, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled. In a case from Orange County, the court ruled that the county could enforce provisions in a specific plan adopted after the county approved a four-lot parcel map for 9.2 acres within the specific plan area. >>read more

The City of Los Angeles was correct to revoke a building permit even though the permit holder had spent more than $200,000 on real estate and construction as a result of the city's advice and permit, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. >>read more

A land exchange between the State Lands Commission and the City of Long Beach to accommodate a retail development project has been thrown out by the Third District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the state agency and the city violated the state law that permits the swapping of land covered by the tidelands public trust doctrine. >>read more

The state Supreme Court has accepted for review a California Environmental Quality Act case involving the water supply for a huge project in Sacramento County. >>read more

If an oil company wants to build a service station in California, it typically needs a permit from the local air pollution control agency, which has the authority to consider whether vapors released during fueling might harm neighbors. If the station is a big one and has been proposed for a vacant lot next to a day-care center, the oil company might never get that permit. >>read more