San Francisco Releases Its Downtown Plan
The firm represents the City of San Francisco in connection with the environmental review for the much anticipated Downtown Plan, released to the public in 1983. Later, the Firm assists the City in the creation of a transferable development rights ordinance to protect its historic structures.
Protection of Open Space and Groundwater
The firm obtains an appellate ruling rejecting a constitutional challenge to Santa Cruz County’s denial of landowners’ request for rezoning, protecting open space and groundwater. (Blodgett v. Santa Cruz County, 698 F.2d 368 (9th Cir. 1982).)
SMW Helps Redevelopment Agency Complete Yerba Buena Center EIR
In 1982 the firm represents the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in connection with the environmental impact report for the Yerba Buena Center redevelopment, including the Yerba Buena Gardens and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
SMW Becomes General Counsel to the Alameda County Waste Management Authority
In 1982 the firm is retained as General Counsel to the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, an agency devoted to sustainability and waste reduction.
Protection of Open Space
The firm successfully defends Tiburon in a landmark, unanimous takings case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Town’s open space ordinance. The Supreme Court requires courts to defer to local agencies’ regulation of land use. (Agins v. Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255 (1980).)