San Mateo County Coastal Open Space Protected
The firm advises on a master parks plan for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s annexation of the entire San Mateo Coast in 2004. It then successfully defends the annexation in court. (Citizens for Responsible Open Space v. San Mateo County LAFCO, 159 Cal.App.4th 717 (2008).)
SMW Stops Massive Port of Stockton Expansion Project and Mitigates Environmental Impacts
The firm secures a federal injunction stopping the Port of Stockton’s hastily started expansion. After a second victory in state court, the firm in 2007 negotiates dramatic reductions in the project’s air and water pollution. (Deltakeeper v. Port of Stockton.)
SMW Stops 4-Lane Bridge Through Open Space Canyon in San Diego
In response to litigation by the firm, the City of San Diego rescinds its controversial decision to construct a bridge over Rose Canyon, a sensitive resource. Later, the City removes the bridge from its General Plan. (Friends of Rose Canyon v. City of San Diego (2007).)
Legislation Authorizes Infill on San Francisco Port Parking Lots
The firm drafts legislation for the Port of San Francisco, passed by the California Legislature in 2007 (SB 815), authorizing a broad range of housing and other urban uses on Seawall Lots that are vacant or used for surface parking, and creating new revenue opportunities to allow the Port to rehabilitate its threatened historic finger […]
A Lifeline for a Rare Salamander
Photo credit: Gary Nafis With the firm’s help, the Environmental Protection Information Center, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, and the Center for Biological Diversity bring successful litigation against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore protection for the Scott Bar Salamander under the California Endangered Species Act. (Environmental Protection Information Center v. CDFW (2007).)
Court Upholds Infill Development Involving Reuse of Historic Theatre
Photo Credit: BWChicago, Flickr, CC BY 2.0 The firm advises and successfully defends the City of Alameda in a suit challenging a redevelopment project in downtown Alameda involving the restoration of the historic Alameda Theatre and the construction of an adjacent cineplex with parking to subsidize the restoration effort. (Citizens for a Megaplex-Free Alameda v. […]
SMW Halts Subdivision Near Base of Mount Whitney
The firm wins a landmark case challenging Inyo County’s approval of a sprawl luxury home development project along Whitney Portal Road in the shadow of Mount Whitney. The court of appeal orders the County to consider an alternative location for the project, which still remains unbuilt. (Save Round Valley Alliance v. County of Inyo, 157 […]
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).)