Defending Agricultural Land Against Sprawl
The firm wins a victory in the court of appeal under the Subdivision Map Act. The court invalidates the approval of the Hoskings Ranch project, a luxury development disguised as an agricultural project in rural San Diego County. (Cleveland National Forest Foundation v. County of San Diego, 37 Cal.App.5th 1021 (2019).)
SMW Becomes General Counsel to RecycleSmart
In 2019, the firm is selected to serve as the General Counsel to the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (RecycleSmart), administering franchise agreements for recycling, compost, and solid waste diversion and disposal for five cities and a portion of the County.
Public On-Demand Shuttle Service Fills Transit Gaps in Cupertino
The firm assists the City of Cupertino in launching an on-demand shuttle service in 2019 to provide transportation anywhere in Cupertino and to nearby mass transit, thereby reducing the use of single-occupancy automobiles.
State Approves Shoreline Park, Rejects Hotel, in Burlingame
In 2019 the firm represents the SPHERE Institute in defeating a waterfront hotel proposal on state public trust land and wins state approval for Burlingame Shoreline Park in its place.
SF Homeless Navigation Center Defended
The firm assists the Office of the San Francisco City Attorney in successfully defending the San Francisco Port’s 2019 approval of the Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center, a high-service shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. (Safe Embarcadero for All v. State of California (2019).)
SMW Helps Launch Affordable Senior Housing Project in Redwood City
The firm assists Midpen Housing Corporation in 2019 to secure land exchange agreements between the state, Redwood City, and private owners necessary to develop the Arroyo Green project, bringing 117 affordable senior housing units to downtown Redwood City.
Truckee Workforce Housing Support
The firm assists the Martis Fund in an innovative 2019 grant supporting development of 77 units of affordable housing in Truckee.
A Win for Public Health: Oil Wells Stalled in Arvin
Together with the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, the firm represents the Committee for a Better Arvin in a successful challenge to the City of Arvin’s approval of oil wells that would have threatened public health in a residential neighborhood. (Committee for a Better Arvin v. City of Arvin (2019).)
Property Purchase, Bridge Provide Needed Link Between State and Regional Parks In Alameda County
Photo Credit: SelfieCity, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons The firm assists the Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC) in 2009 to acquire the Bobba property, a key linkage in Livermore between Del Valle State Park and Sycamore Grove Park. The firm then helps TVC in 2019 with funding, contracting, and construction of a bridge crossing to connect […]
SMW Drafts State Legislation to Facilitate Land Conservation and Restoration
Photo Credit: West Marin Environmental Action Committee from “Parks Are For Everyone” In 2019 the firm drafts and helps secure passage of state legislation enabling public agencies to acquire threatened lands and prepare an environmental review for restoration efforts after first protecting the land from development.