Environmental Protection
Rosenthal v. Board of Supervisors
Case Summary
The California Court of Appeal ruled that the LA County Board of Supervisors violated CEQA by approving four massive residential subdivisions proposed in sensitive areas of the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu coastal areas without prior environmental studies. Three of the sites have subsequently been purchased as key parts of the public parks system, another became a publicly accessible golf course.
Coalition for Los Angeles County Planning v. Board of Supervisors
Forced County to replace sprawl-friendly urban development plan with rules protecting open space and managing growth.
Federation of Hillside and Canyon Associations, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles
Required City to fix zoning city wide inconsistencies, halting inconsistent building permits until land use rules matched community plans.
Committee for Simon Rodia’s Towers in Watts v. City of Los Angeles
Halted substandard repairs, securing funds for expert historic preservation of Watts Towers.