Court Overturns Sprawl Development in Wildfire Risk Zone
The firm successfully challenges San Diego County’s 2019 approval of the Harmony Grove Village South Project, which would have brought sprawl development to a fire-prone, rural area of the County. Photo by ClassicallyPrinted, Pixabay.
SMW Attorneys Recognized with Amicus Service Award
Three SMW attorneys received the Amicus Service Award from the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA). Attorneys (L to R) Laura Beaton, Andrew Schwartz, and Matthew D. Zinn were recognized for their work drafting the SCOTUS amicus brief for Knick v. Township of Scott.
Building Decarbonization Update: California Energy Commission Approves First Set of Electric Reach Codes
Following up on the October 2019 edition of In the Public Interest, this article provides an update on the California Energy Commission’s approval of ordinances passed by several cities and counties to encourage or require buildings to go all-electric. As reported in the October 2019 edition of “In the Public Interest,” local jurisdictions throughout California […]
Coming to a Backyard Near You: What’s New With ADUs in 2020
Public Agency Update: New state legislation that took effect on January 1, 2020 imposes additional limits on the ability of local jurisdictions to restrict Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This article describes what’s changed and how cities and counties might react. For the last few years, the state has explored ways to encourage cities and counties […]
SMW 40th Anniversary
Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger turns 40 this year! Over the course of the year, we will be celebrating our four decades of lawyering in the public interest as California’s preeminent public agency, environmental, land use, and renewable energy law firm. The firm was founded in 1980 by three former members of the state Attorney General’s […]
En Garde: China’s National Sword Shakes Up Recycling
China, historically one of the largest markets for recyclable materials, has dramatically tightened restrictions on waste imports. American recyclers in search of new markets are increasingly turning to local agencies for relief. This article discusses shifts in global recycling markets and how some local agencies are adapting to these changes. Agencies that provide curbside recycling […]
Vehicle Miles Traveled Replaces Level of Service
Public Agency Update: The time is approaching for agencies to change how they measure CEQA transportation impacts. For land use projects, beginning July 1, 2020, transportation impacts must be measured using vehicle miles traveled (VMT) instead of level of service (LOS). This article explains when public agencies may use each method moving forward. Beginning July […]
SMW Ranked Top Tier Nationally Among 2020 “Best Law Firms”
U.S. News and Best Lawyers® have again given Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP a “Tier 1” ranking in four categories among law firms in the San Francisco metropolitan area, and three national awards, including a prestigious “Tier 1” ranking among all firms nationally in Land Use & Zoning Law. View the rankings here.
Coyote Valley Saved!
The firm works with the Peninsula Open Space Trust, the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, and the City of San Jose to preserve 937 acres in Coyote Valley for wildlife and open space in 2019. SMW partners Bill White, Tamara Galanter, and Sara Clark receive the 2020 California Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year (CLAY) […]
SMW Partner Teaching at Stanford Law School
Andrew Schwartz recently became a Lecturer at Stanford Law School where he teaches a course on Land Use Law.