Updates and Articles
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 casino project.
Read MoreSaratoga Completes New Trail Designated Part of Historic De Anza Trail
In 2007 the firm advises the City of Saratoga in environmental review and obtaining rights-of-way for an urban trail that was subsequently designated as part of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail in 2017. Photo: Image by NAME from SOURCE
Read MoreDangerous 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).)
Read MoreCalifornia 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).)
Read MoreSMW Defends City’s Mobile Home Rent Review Board Decision
The firm obtains a court order dismissing a court challenges to the City of Concord's implementation of its mobile home rent control ordinance. (Concord Communities, L.P. v. City of Concord (2006).)
Read MoreSMW 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).)
Read MoreExchange 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.
Read MoreSettlement 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 settlement agreements with private landowners in 2006 that provide an ongoing...
Read MoreSMW Serves as City Attorney for Orinda
The firm becomes the City Attorney of Orinda in 2006.
Read MoreSMW Advises City on Alameda Landing Project – Reuse of Former Navy Base
Photo by Alameda Point Environmental Report Assisted by the firm, the City of Alameda in 2006 approves the Alameda Landing Project on the former Alameda Fleet Industrial Supply Center military base site as a walkable mixed-use, transit-accessible community with affordable housing, parks and school, and waterfront promenade.
Read MoreSMW 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).)
Read MoreCalifornia Supreme Court Upholds Goleta’s Denial of Subdivision Map
The firm serves as part of the legal team that obtains a ruling from the California Supreme Court upholding the discretion of a newly-formed city to deny a final subdivision map where the county had earlier granted a vesting tentative map. (City of Goleta v. Superior Court, 40 Cal.4th 270 (2006).)
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