environmental/Land Use

This case involved a landmark agreement between the city and the local university to create a joint commission to plan the downtown area in a way that would accommodate the university's expansion needs but also respect the city's interest. Four residents filed this suit challenging the agreement on three grounds: the city should have filed an environmental impact report; the city had unlawfully delegated its authority over the downtown area to the university; and the city had violated the Public Records Act by withholding certain documents.
Case involving an attempt by preservationists to save a 65-year-old historic ship from being sold for scrap. Plaintiffs sued the Port contending that defendant violated the state's environmental laws by selling a historic asset to a scrap dealer without having first conducted a CEQA review. Plaintiff sought to overturn the sale and order the ship returned to the Port so alternative options to demolition could be studied. Defendant challenged that the ship was a "historic resource" subject to CEQA.
Handled companion cases which challenged a massive development project on the grounds that the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by the city and project developer was inadequate and in violation of CEQA. Of particular concern by certain members of the public was the planned partial destruction of a historic terminal. The EIR documents to be reviewed were extensive and detailed.