Hancocks

BACKGROUND

The trial court’s detailed order denying Hancocks’s petition includes an excellent summary of the history of this dispute which, with minor nonsubstantive editorial changes, we adopt as our own: “This Petition for Writ of Mandate seeks review of a final administrative decision of the County of Alameda approving a conditional use permit for respondent Hope 4 the Heart. Hope 4 the Heart, a nonprofit corporation, has operated a food storage and distribution facility for needy families out of a warehouse located at 22035 Meekland

1 Avenue in an unincorporated area of Alameda County known as Cherryland (the ‘Meekland property’). Hope 4 the Heart funds its food distribution activities through a combination of grants, including Alameda County Community Development Block Grants, private foundations and donations from private individuals. (AR 83.) At the time Hope 4 the Heart commenced operations, the land use designation of the Meekland property was Manufacturing (Industrial). From 2000 through 2008, Hope 4 the Heart distributed food from the warehouse located on the Meekland property and conducted its administrative operation from a small metal building, also located on the…