Sale of Point Molate Requires CEQA Review
The firm wins a case challenging the City of Richmond’s proposed sale of over 200 acres of waterfront property for the development of a large casino and resort hotel. (East Bay Regional Park District v. City of Richmond (2007).) The firm continues to work with the East Bay Regional Park District to successfully prevent the […]
Dangerous Herbicide Use Restricted
The firm wins a CEQA case challenging programs of three Central Valley irrigation districts that would have applied dangerous herbicides to irrigation canals that provide important natural habitat. (DeltaKeeper v. Merced Irrigation Dist., South San Joaquin Irrigation Dist., and Oakdale Irrigation Dist. (2006).)
California Supreme Court Upholds Local Logging Regulations
The firm successfully defends Santa Cruz County in the California Supreme Court against a lumber company’s claim that state law preempted the County’s authority to regulate logging through zoning. (Big Creek Lumber Co. v. County of Santa Cruz, 38 Cal.4th 1139 (2006).)
SMW Defends Regulation of Oil Refinery Emissions
The court of appeal upholds the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s rule requiring refineries to reduce emissions of ammonia and particulate matter from fluidized catalytic cracking units. (Western States Petroleum Assn. v. SCAQMD, 136 Cal. App. 4th 1012 (2006).)
Exchange Agreements Open Door to Redevelopment of Oakland Army Base
The firm assists the Oakland Army Base Reuse Authority in negotiating series of land exchange and related agreements, authorized by legislation drafted by the firm (SB 674), that will enable the redevelopment of the former Army Base.
Settlement Protects Gateway to Lake Tahoe
On behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, the firm successfully challenges the approval by Placer County of the Martis Valley Community Plan. The Plan would have allowed massive urban development at a key gateway to Lake Tahoe. (Sierra Watch et al. v. Placer County.) Following the challenge, the firm negotiates a series of innovative […]
SMW Litigation Leads to Agricultural Mitigation Fee Ordinance
As a result of litigation filed by the firm challenging the expansion of the City of Stockton’s sphere of influence, the City agrees to require developers to pay one of the highest-ever per-acre agricultural mitigation fees. (Sierra Club v. San Joaquin County LAFCO (2006).)
SMW Litigation Stops Controversial Sports Complex Proposed in Rural Area
Photo Credit: Nancy LaScola In response to litigation by the firm on behalf of a local community group and Green Foothills, the City of San Jose rescinds its approval of a massive sports complex in the South Almaden Valley, a rural area that lacks public services to support the project. The complex is never built. […]
Court Invalidates Controversial Water Privatization Contract in Stockton
On behalf of the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County, the Sierra Club, and a local community group, the firm prevails in a legal challenge to the City of Stockton’s approval of a $600 million contract to privatize all of its water utilities. After losing in two trials, the City terminates the contract. […]
SMW Helps El Segundo Combat Adverse Airport Impacts from LAX
The firm negotiates a global settlement of a dispute over the expansion of the Los Angeles International Airport, limiting the size of the expansion, mitigating its impacts on neighbors, and assisting in the development of a long-term regional strategy to satisfy aviation demand through other airports in the Los Angeles area. (El Segundo v. Los […]