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California Land Use & Development Law Report

California Land Use & Development Law Report offers insights into legal issues relating to development and use of land and federal, state and local permitting and approval processes.

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October 10, 2019

Local Ban on Airbnb and Other Short-Term Rentals Did Not Violate Dormant Commerce Clause

An ordinance that banned short-term residential rentals and related activities did not violate the Dormant Commerce Clause, which prohibits discrimination against interstate commerce by state and local governments. Rosenblatt v. City of Santa Monica, 940 F.3d 439 (9th Cir.

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October 9, 2019

Award of Attorney’s Fees Warranted Where Plaintiff Lost on Most Claims But Achieved Primary Litigation Objective

A plaintiff challenging a city council's interpretation of a local ballot measure was entitled to recover costs and attorney fees when successful on only one cause of action because the primary relief sought was granted. Friends of Spring Street v.

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October 2, 2019

Agency Inaction Is Not a CEQA Project

An agency's failure to maintain a historic building—"demolition by neglect"—is not a "project" subject to CEQA. Lake Norconian Club Foundation v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, No. A154917 (First District Court of Appeal, Sept. 13, 2019). The Lake Norconian Club is a former hotel that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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September 23, 2019

California Supreme Court Clarifies What Is a “Project” Subject to CEQA

The California Supreme Court clarified what activities are subject to CEQA in its recent decision in Union of Medical Marijuana Patients, Inc. v. City of San Diego, No. S238563, 2019 WL 3884465 (Aug. 19, 2019). First, the court held that enactment of a zoning ordinance is not necessarily a project in all circumstances.

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September 16, 2019

City Not Required to Evaluate Impacts of Loss of Rental Units from Already-Vacant Building

A lead agency was not required to evaluate the housing-related impacts of a proposed hotel in a vacant building that was formerly used for rental housing. Hollywoodians Encouraging Rental Opportunities v. City of Los Angeles, 37 Cal. App.

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September 16, 2019

Regulation Finalizes Repeal of Obama-Era Clean Water Rule

A new final regulation issued on September 12, 2019 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers repealed the Obama administration's

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September 12, 2019

Local Agencies Cannot Challenge State Project Approvals on Constitutional Grounds in Federal Court

Cities and other political subdivisions lack standing to mount a constitutional challenge in federal court against an administrative decision by a state agency. City of San Juan Capistrano v. California Public Utilities Commission, 937 F.3d 1278 (9th Cir.

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September 3, 2019

Court Decision Compounds Confusion Over Scope of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction

A decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia issued on August 21, 2019, highlights the continuing confusion over the definition of "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act.

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August 30, 2019

EPA Proposes Narrowing of Water Quality Certification Authority Under Clean Water Act

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a lengthy proposed rule clarifying the substantive and procedural requirements for water quality certifications under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

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August 30, 2019

Federal Agencies Issue Major Changes to Endangered Species Act Regulations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a set of three new final rules that substantially revise regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act.

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August 19, 2019

EIR’s Project Description May Present Alternative Development Options and the Agency May Approve A Variant of an Analyzed Alternative

An EIR's project description may identify alternative development schemes proposed for a single project, and the agency may approve a modified version of the project that incorporates elements of one of the alternatives reviewed in the EIR. South of Market Community Action Network v.

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August 13, 2019

Location Exception to CEQA’s Categorical Exemptions Applies Only to Designated Environmental Resources Affected by The Project

The location exception to CEQA's categorical exemptions does not apply to earthquake and landslide hazard zones, as they are not "environmental resources" that would be affected by a project. Berkeley Hills Watershed Coalition v. City of Berkeley, 31 Cal.App.5th 880 (1st Dist. 2019). The City of Berkeley approved construction of three single-family homes in the Berkeley Hills.

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August 8, 2019

Permit Amendment Unlawfully Expanded Nonconforming Use

A municipality's approval of a permit amendment allowing a quarry to import asphalt for recycling improperly expanded the quarry's nonconforming use, the First District Court of Appeal ruled in Point San Pedro Road Coalition v. County of Marin, 33 Cal. App. 5th 1074 (2019). San Rafael Rock Quarry, Inc., operates a quarry in the County of Marin that produces asphaltic concrete.

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July 25, 2019

Park and Recreation Fees Violated Mitigation Fee Act

The court of appeal held that the City of Alameda's development fee for parks and recreation was invalid and unenforceable because there was no reasonable relationship between the fee charged and the burden from new development. Boatworks, LLC v. City of Alameda, 35 Cal. App. 5th 290 (2019).

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July 16, 2019

Possibility of Further Applications for New Charter Schools Did Not Constitute “Current and Immediate Threat” Warranting Adoption of Urgency Ordinance Imposing Moratorium on Processing Such Applications.

The court of appeal held that an urgency ordinance enacted to impose a temporary moratorium on the establishment and operation of new charter schools in Huntington Park was invalid. California Charter Schools Association v. City of Huntington Park, et al., 35 Cal. App. 5th 362 (2019).