A private gun club leasing land from the City of Ukiah in Mendocino County expanded -- with ministerial review from the city and no review at all from the county. An appellate court has decided that's not okay.

CEQA lawsuit claims county's mitigation measures on land use, agricultural mitigation and other issues are vague, unenforceable and  will induce sprawl. 

In the latest ruling on this emerging topic, an appellate court shot down the San Diego County board's decision to require an EIR for a recycling plant -- even though county's own staff, zoning administrator, and planning commission all said an exemption was warranted.

Whether it's something as big as the State Water Project or as small as tree stumps in Los Angeles, environmentalists aren't winning CEQA cases at the appellate level.

In third unpublished appellate court ruling, justices reject argument that affordable housing will not result and that an alternative site in Marina, 40 miles away, should ahve been considered.

Mining interests challenged Ventura County's new ordinance. But an appellate court said projects subject to CEQA exemptions 7 and 8 don't have to protect the entire environment, only specific natural resources. 

In an unpublished case, an appellate court strikes down an environmental group's challenge to parking reform in San Diego. The court relied partly on SB 743 to uphold a CEQA exemption for the ordinance.

Governor agrees to SB 4, SB 423, and various CEQA and density bonus reforms without vetoing any bills. He also signed the "CEQA stall" bill.

In a new lawsuit, the developer claims the city stalled the application so long it amounted to a denial. The city claims it is processing the developer's builder's remedy application. 

In latest Fanita Ranch skirmish, appellate court says conservation easements and better land management are sufficient mitigation for lost gnatcatcher habitat.