SMW Sues to Force County to Implement Voter Initiative
The firm prevails in a lawsuit forcing Solano County to comply with Measure E, an initiative that prohibits the importation of solid waste into the County’s landfills. (Sierra Club v. Solano County (2011).)
Quarry Transformed into Park
The firm advises the City of Saratoga in acquiring a former quarry to be redeveloped as a park subject to a conservation easement and in subsequent park planning and operations. The park opens in 2015 and in 2020 the City opens a trail providing access to Sanborn County Park and, from there, to open space […]
SMW Defends Program for Protection of Farmland
The court of appeal upholds the authority of local governments to require dedication of conservation easements to mitigate the loss of farmland caused by new development. (Building Industry Assn. of Central California v. County of Stanislaus, 190 Cal. App. 4th 582 (2010).)
Largest Brownfields Renewal Project in San Francisco Approved at Hunters Point
On behalf of the former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, the firm negotiates land exchange agreements with the state that will enable the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Candlestick Point to be developed with 300 acres of new parks and more than 12,000 housing units, over 30% of them affordable. The firm drafted the state […]
SMW and California Trout Secure Greater Flows for Endangered Steelhead
As a result of litigation filed by the firm on behalf of California Trout, the owner of the Vern Freeman Diversion Dam agrees to allow greater water flows into the Santa Clara River to protect steelhead, an endangered migratory fish species. (California Trout, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation (2009).)
SMW Helps Community Stop A Flawed Power Plant
In 2009 the firm helps the Environmental Health Coalition persuade the California Energy Commission to deny a license to the Chula Vista Energy Upgrade Project, which would have located a power plant in the midst of homes and schools.
SMW Litigation Stops Rezoning of Timberland in Lassen County
Following a CEQA suit filed by the firm, Lassen County rescinds its approval of a proposal by Sierra Pacific Industries to rezone 5,000 acres of timberland for urban development. (Friends of Lassen Forest v. Lassen County (2009).)
Stockton General Plan Litigation Leads to Adoption of Landmark Climate Action Plan
Photo credit: Eric Sonstroem, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 As a result of litigation filed by the firm challenging the City of Stockton’s General Plan update, and pressure from the state Attorney General’s office, the City agrees to prepare a Climate Action Plan, one of the earliest such plans in California. (Sierra Club v. City of Stockton […]
SMW Helps Defeat Nestle’s Controversial Water-Bottling Plant on McCloud River
Photo Credit: Curtis Knight After years of pressure from California Trout and Trout Unlimited, groups represented by the firm, the Nestle Company in 2009 agrees to withdraw its plans to build a water-bottling plant on the McCloud River, one of the greatest trout-fishing rivers in the world. Firm partner Rachel Hooper receives the California Lawyer’s […]
SMW Enforces Agricultural Conservation Easement
After years of litigation, the firm negotiates a groundbreaking settlement to enforce a conservation easement and preserve and enhance the agricultural productivity of Sonoma County’s Lower Ranch. (Sonoma Land Trust v. BBRRBR LLC (2008).)