Nonprofit organization petitioned for writ of mandate against city, challenging city’s approval of ballot measure to remove coastal zone building height limit from community planning area under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Superior Court, San Diego County, denied organization’s petition. Organization appealed.
The Court of Appeal held that:
- City failed to analyze potential impact of ballot measure on noise levels in area;
- City failed to analyze potential impact of ballot measure on air quality in area;
- City failed to analyze potential impact of ballot measure on biological resources in area;
- City failed to analyze potential impact of ballot measure on geological conditions in area; and
- Deferral of full environmental analysis of ballot measure until individual site-specific projects were proposed was not adequate.