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Save Foster City, CA 94404

***Foster City, CA 94404 is redeveloping and adding some 36 buildings, MANY of them towers, in our tiny water surrounded town, but - WITHOUT streets, schools or ANY public transit.

***Our city is at maximum capacity levels now. Our public land, zoned for education, is being taken over by 8 towers of senior private residences. PLEASE HELP US -  WWW.SAVEFOSTERCITY.COM.   FosterCityFriends@gmail.com

Long-term water supply and CEQA

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While the guidance provided by the court from the Vineyard Area Citizens v. Rancho Cordova (2007) - click here for the opinion revolves around water supply issues, the approach outlined for environmental analysis and the direction given regarding citation and incorporation of materials are applicable to a broad range of environmental topics analyzed in EIRs. Analysis related to infrastructure, utilities and services, such as transportation, wastewater, drainage and energy, can be guided by the approach described by the court.

In this case, the state Supreme Court deemed the EIR prepared for the 6,000-acre Sunrise Douglas Community Plan, which proposed over 20,000 residential units with schools and parks as well as 480 acres of office and commercial uses, and the nearer-term 2,600-acre SunRidge Specific Plan, with about 9,900 residential units and community commercial, shopping center, neighborhood schools and parks, inadequate because the EIR did not adequately evaluate long-term water sources necessary to serve the project under build-out conditions. Listed below are key elements of practically applying the Vineyard decision in regards to the approach used for the environmental analysis and technical details of environmental document preparation.

Noticing Exemption

Mahon v. County of San Mateo (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 812

Essentially: Mahon appeals a summary judgement against him, that his project was not deemed approved under the Permit Streamlining Act (PSA.)  The PSA generally requires an agency generally must approve or disapprove a project within 60 days after its determination that the project is exempt from CEQA.  In  a nutshell: While the agency did not meet the 60 days, the Court determined that while the public was noticed regarding the project, the notice did not state that the would be deemed approved within 60 days if the agency failed to act.  The Court did note that Mahon could have published his own notice with such wording, but he failed to do so.  Interesting article.

Mitigation Feasibility

County of San Diego v. Grossman-Cuyamaca Community College District (2006), 141 Cal.App4th 86

Grossman-Cuyamaca Community College District (District) prepared a master plan covering 20 construction and remodel projects (projects), certified a Final EIR for the porject, adopted a statement of overriding considerations and CEQA findings , and approved the project, identifying it is legally and economically infeasible for the District to pay for any off-campus road improvements for the project’s off-campus traffic impacts.

Army Corps Jurisdiction

Rapanos v. United States 547 U.S._______ (2006)

A brief discussion is below, and the Kennedy opinion is attached, too.

Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan

Environmental Council of Sacramento v. City of Sacramento (Alleghany Properties, Inc.) (2006),  Cal.App.4th  
http://fsnews.findlaw.com/cases/ca/caapp4th/slip/2006/c049527.html

Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) challenged the City of Sacramento (City) and certification by Sutter County (Sutter) of the EIR and issuance of incidental take permits by Department of Fish and Game (DFG) on essentially three points: 1) agencies failed to consider the impacts that the Joint Vision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and County of Sacramento (County) and other development projects would have on the Swainson’s hawk (hawks) and giant garter snake (snakes), 2) the mitigation measures are impermissibly unfunded, voluntary, unenforceable, and infeasible, and 3) the 0.5:1 ratio for the purchase of mitigation land is infeasible.  The Court did not find in favor of the plaintiff on any of the points.

FORA – Mitigation Measures

City of Marina v. Board of Trustees of the California State University (2006), 39 Cal.4th 341  

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/californiastatecases/s117816.pdf

The Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) challenged the EIR prepared by the Board of Trustees of the California State University (Trustees) for the expansion of the CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) on the basis that three of Trustees’s findings were dependent on incorrect legal assumptions.  Trustees' argument was essentially (1) Any payment by Trustees to FORA for the purpose of capital improvement in Fort Ord is an assessment, regardless of form; (2) public agencies are exempt from assessment except as permitted by the Legislature; and (3) the Legislature has permitted assessments only for the purposes set out in chapter 13.7 of the Government Code (§ 54999 et seq.).

Use of Addendum to MND for Similar Project

Save Our Neighborhood et al. v. Lishman, et. al. (2006) DJDAR 8335, #C049525
Decision: http://fsnews.findlaw.com/cases/ca/caapp4th/slip/2006/c049525.html 

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