Topanga Ass'n for a Scenic Community v. County of Los Angeles

Plaintiffs Topanga Association for a Scenic Community and Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization appeal from judgment denying their petition for a writ of mandate which would have ordered the County of Los Angeles, its board of supervisors and certain of its agencies to set aside their approval of a project for development of a tract of land in an unincorporated area of the county.

Factual and Procedural Background

The project in question is located on the southern flank of the Santa Monica Mountains just below their crest. The property immediately to the north, south and east of the project is vacant; the property to the west consists of single-family residences. The project contemplates subdivision of a tract of 78.7 acres into 83 single-family residential lots and 6 open-space lots with construction of roads, utilities and appurtenances necessary for the development of the residential lots.

Oakmont Development Associates (developer) submitted to the county department of regional planning (department) applications for approval of a tentative tract map, a hillside management conditional use permit and an oak tree permit for the project. On the basis of an initial…