Oceanic California, Inc. v. North Central Coast Regional Commission

Appellant, a land developer, has appealed from a judgment that denied its petition for a writ of administrative mandamus in which it sought, among other relief, a judgment that it was entitled to an exemption from the provisions of the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (Pub. Resources Code, § 27000 et seq.) to the full extent requested in its application (see Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 14, §§ 13700-13707; and State of California v. Superior Court (Veta Co.) (1974) 12 Cal.3d 237, 249-250 [ 115 Cal.Rptr. 497 , 524 P.2d 1281 ]) that had been denied by each of respondent commissions. The respondent commissions have filed a cross-appeal in which they seek review of rulings of the court with respect to the admission of evidence and settlement of the findings.

Petitioner concedes that it has not secured a building permit, as required by the provisions of section 27404 of the Public Resources Code. It contends that under the particular circumstances of this case, a sequence of approvals and. actions taken pursuant to a planned unit development zoning approval, it acquired a vested right to complete the development; and that, therefore, section 27404 should be…