Sierra Club v. PlacerCounty
These are actions under the California Environmental Quality Act (hereafter, CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, 21000 et seq.) and planning and zoning law. Several environmental groups and the Town of Loomis (Loomis) sued Placer County (County) and the developers of a large residential development in the southwestern part of the county, claiming that Countys approval of the project was based on an inadequate environmental impact report (EIR) and was inconsistent with Countys General Plan. The trial court upheld the Countys certification of the projects EIR but invalidated the Countys approval of the projects corresponding specific plan because the record did not contain an identifiable plan.
Most of the issues have been settled while on appeal. We decide those that remain as follows: (1) we disagree with the developers and the County and find the trial court properly granted one of the environmental groups a citizens group attorney fees under the private attorney general doctrine, but we agree the amount of fees awarded is excessive and we remand on this issue; and (2) we reject the premise underlying the developers cross-appeal regarding the trial courts invalidation of the specific plans approval. Accordingly, Court affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
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