Woodland Hills Residents Assn. v. City Council

Plaintiff Woodland Hills Residents Association, Inc., petitioned the superior court for a writ of mandamus compelling each respondent (city council, planning commission, advisory agency) to vacate its decision approving a tract map of a proposed subdivision to be made by Consolidated Resources, Inc., (real party in interest) in Woodland Hills. It may be stated generally that, in a hillside area of 38 acres, Consolidated proposed to cut approximately 90 feet from the top of a ridge and fill the adjacent valleys with 750,000 cubic yards of earth, thereby creating a mesa that would be subdivided into 123 lots upon which to construct 123 dwelling houses. Judgment was entered denying the petition. Woodland Hills Association (petitioner) appeals from the judgment.

Appellant (Association) contends that (1) the City Council of Los Angeles, the planning commission, and the advisory agency unlawfully approved the tract map by failing to find that it was consistent with the city’s general plan, (2) the tract map is not consistent with the general plan, (3) an environmental impact report was not prepared prior to approval of the tract map, and (4) each respondent (council, planning…