San Onofre State Beach Permanently Saved From Toll Road
After years of challenging the 16-mile Foothill-South Toll Road in court and administrative proceedings, including the largest public hearing in the Coastal Commission’s history, the firm helps a dozen environmental groups negotiate a settlement that permanently protects San Onofre State Beach and adjoining open space. (Calif. State Parks Fdn. v. Transportation Corridor Agency, 150 Cal.App.4th […]
California Supreme Court Victory
The firm wins a landmark case before the California Supreme Court holding that the North Coast Rail Authority must comply with CEQA when reopening tracks running from Novato to Humboldt County. Subsequently, the state passes legislation to convert the rail line to the Great Redwood Trail. (Friends of the Eel River v. NCRA, 3 Cal.5th […]
Legislation Passes Authorizing Mission Rock Project on Giants Parking Lot Site
In 2016 the state legislature enacts legislation (AB 2797), drafted by the firm for the Port of San Francisco, authorizing the development of the Mission Rock project on the site of a surface parking lot. The project includes 40% affordable housing and a five-acre waterfront park on China Basin Park.
Columbia State Historic Park Protected From Mine Expansion
In response to litigation by the firm, Tuolumne County agrees to rescind its approval of the expansion of a limestone mine near Columbia State Historic Park and to prepare an environmental impact report for the project. (Central Sierra Env’l Resource Ctr. v. Tuolumne County (2014).)
Landmark Settlement Agreement Ends Decades of Dispute over Mono Basin Streams
Assisted by the firm, the Mono Lake Committee negotiates a settlement agreement requiring the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to restore habitat and fisheries in four tributaries to Mono Lake.
Audubon Society Leverages Project Implementation for Conservation Funding
Assisted by the firm, the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society negotiates a 2013 agreement with San Jose developers during project implementation that provides significant funding to permanently preserve burrowing owl habitat and conduct surveys to support regional conservation efforts.
Firm Prevails In Commercial Lease Litigation on Alameda Waterfront
The firm successfully defends the City of Alameda’s decision to not renew a commercial lease of its waterfront property, allowing the City to retain the largest ship repair facility in the Bay Area. (Alameda Gateway, Ltd. v. City of Alameda (2013).) On behalf of the City, the firm negotiates a new direct lease with the […]
SMW Advises on Adoption of State’s Delta Plan
Assisted by the firm, the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) adopts the state’s Delta Plan in 2013 to further the coequal goals of a more reliable water supply for California and protecting and restoring the Delta ecosystem while preserving the Delta as a place, and adopts amendments in 2018. The firm defends the DSC’s actions in […]
Water Rights for Fish and Wildlife
The firm represents The Nature Conservancy in a petition to dedicate water rights for the Big Springs Ranch in Siskiyou County to instream use for the protection of fish and wildlife in the Shasta River. The project becomes a model for sustainable ranch management to protect endangered coho salmon. The firm later represents private ranch […]
Agreement Enables Redevelopment of Naval Air Station Treasure Island
The firm negotiates an exchange agreement with the state, and helps defend a development plan, adopted by the Treasure Island Development Authority in 2012. (Citizens for a Sustainable Treasure Island v. City and County of San Francisco.) The approvals, authorized by legislation drafted by the firm (SB 1873), enable the redevelopment of Yerba Buena Island […]