Committee for Responsible Planning v. City of Indian Wells

This controversy arises from the City of Indian Wells’ approvals for and adoption of redevelopment plans and environmental impact reports (EIRs) for the Roadrunner Redevelopment Project Area (Roadrunner project) and Consolidated Whitewater Redevelopment Project Area (Whitewater project). Appellant, Committee for Responsible Planning (Committee), appeals from judgments entered by stipulation between respondents, the City of Indian Wells, its redevelopment agency, and the individual members of its city council and redevelopment agency (referred to collectively herein as Indian Wells) and the City of Palm Springs (Palm Springs) in actions to challenge the validity of the redevelopment projects. The Committee asks us to vacate the judgments on the grounds that validation actions are in rem and require a single judgment on the merits; the judgments violate provisions of the redevelopment plans; and the judgments call for use of tax increment revenues for impermissible purposes.

Facts

Following Indian Wells’ adoption of the Roadrunner and Whitewater projects, five actions were brought pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 33501 under the procedures set forth in Code of…