Legal Digest

The California Supreme Court has recently accepted two land use cases and ordered an appellate court decision regarding fees to be depublished. >>read more

The habitat conservation plan for the rapidly growing Natomas Basin in Sacramento and southern Sutter counties has been upheld by a state appellate court. >>read more

The life of a tentative map for a subdivision may be extended for up to five years if the map is subject to a local development moratorium, but the map does not live on if the moratorium continues for more than five years, the First District Court of Appeal has ruled. >>read more

In a ruling from the Sonoma County wine country, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has apparently signaled its intent to continue with a broad reading of the Clean Water Act. >>read more

The Coastal Act does not protect views of the coast from off-shore locations, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. In a case from San Luis Obispo County, the court ruled that the Coastal Commission did not have authority to require that a proposed house be relocated and downsized to protect the views of boaters and surfers. >>read more

A mitigated negative declaration for a never-built project cannot be used for a subsequent, similar project proposed for the same site, the Third District Court of Appeal has ruled. >>read more

Property owners who received an $850,000 loan from the Carson Redevelopment Agency must return the money because they acquiesced to the mayor's demand for a $75,000 bribe, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. >>read more

The state Supreme Court has rejected California State University trustees' contention that the university does not have to mitigate off-site traffic and fire safety impacts from expansion of the CSU Monterey Bay campus. >>read more

A unanimous California Supreme Court has upheld lower court decisions rejecting an advertising company's claim that it deserves compensation because trees planted along a public street obstructed visibility of six billboards. >>read more

In a decision handed down shortly before the state Supreme Court opinion on California State University project impacts, an appellate court ruled that a San Diego community college district is responsible for off-campus traffic impacts caused by campus expansion. >>read more

An environmental impact report for one of the first Wal-Mart supercenters approved in California has been upheld by the Sixth District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the City of Gilroy did not have to prepare a new economic analysis in the supercenter's environmental impact report because previous studies were adequate. >>read more

The latest round to be decided in the ongoing fight over building inspection and plan check fees has gone to the City of Corona, which successfully defended a lawsuit originally brought by developer Barratt American and its chief fee consultant. >>read more

In the ongoing controversy regarding local government authority over wireless telecommunication antennas, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has upheld San Diego County's zoning ordinance that establishes a detailed permitting process for such antennas. >>read more

A Superior Court's award of damages to a billboard company that sued over the City of Arcata's building and sign ordinances has been thrown out. >>read more