[WEBINAR] Who Does What? Defining Proper Roles for Staff and Elected Officials
Ethics Laws and the Importance of Transparency for Public Officials
The court of appeal held that a City Council resolution approving a development agreement that included policy decisions regarding development of a public park was a legislative act subject to referendum. Move Eden Housing v....more
Last week, legislation was introduced in Philadelphia City Council that, if passed, would secure Registered Community Organizations (RCOs) legal protection from the city for their involvement in zoning matters. The bill was...more
The court of appeal held that the City’s determination that a mixed-use development project was consistent with applicable general plans policies and standards was supported by substantial evidence. Old East Davis...more
Senator Wiener revives plan for by-right affordable housing on certain sites owned by religious institutions or private non-profit higher educational institutions CBS Bay Area – June 10 Last week, State Senator Scott Wiener...more
Warehouse “buffer bill” advances in California legislature Bullet The Real Deal – June 2 A bill that proposes a 1,000-foot buffer zone between large warehouse developments and residential areas has advanced through one...more
Settlement could bring thousands of new housing units to North San Jose after decade-long pause Bullet The Mercury News – May 20 For nearly a decade, San Jose had been paralyzed from building any new housing in a prime area...more
California realtor-affiliated group sues six cities for failing to adopt new housing plans - Los Angeles Daily News – April 20 - A nonprofit group affiliated with the California Association of Realtors sued six cities in Los...more
Parties entering into contracts with corporations, limited liability companies, and other legal entities often require proof, in the form of resolutions by the board of directors or members authorizing an identified officer...more
The DC City Council has proposed two bills intended to make it easier for condominium associations and unit owners to pursue warranty claims against developers and obtain release of warranty funds....more
A court could properly direct a city council to correct internal inconsistencies in its general plan resulting from adoption of an initiative. Denham, LLC v. City of Richmond, 41 Cal. App. 5th 340 (2019). The Richmond City...more
A Land Court ruling late last week chipped away at the several arguments raised by local opponents to a large proposed grow operation in Charlton, Massachusetts. See Valley Green Grow, Inc. v. Charlton, 2019 WL 1087930 (Land...more
The Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld a mitigated negative declaration where the project opponent correctly appealed the approval of entitlements but failed to properly appeal the CEQA determination under the City of San...more
On December 20, 2017, the Fourth District Court of Appeal delivered a solid win for the City of San Diego in a multi-faceted challenge to its approval of a private school pursuant to a Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”)....more
The effective date of the new Portland Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code has been delayed to at least May 24, 2018. These two related planning projects, begun a number of years ago, were subject to review and approval by the...more
Portland's neighborhood associations have generated news lately, from Montavilla's resolution resisting the City's efforts to clear homeless camps, to controversy over whether transient persons can vote in Overlook's...more
CEQA decisions usually arise in the context of a challenge to a lead agency’s approval of a project and a related CEQA document. However, in a recent decision, Kutzke v. City of San Diego (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 1034...more
On June 6, 2016, City of Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto signed legislation enacted by City Council amending the City of Pittsburgh Zoning Code by establishing a Riverfront Interim Planning Overlay District (“IPOD”). The...more