Boelts

I. SUMMARY

California’s Community Redevelopment Law (Health & Saf. Code, § 33000 et seq. ) requires a finding that a project area is blighted in order to establish a redevelopment plan. (§ 33367, subd. (d)(1); e.g., Sweetwater Valley Civic Assn. v. City of National City (1976) 18 Cal.3d 270, 277 [ 133 Cal.Rptr. 859 , 555 P.2d 1099 ] [“To allow redevelopment under the CRL, the proposed area must be blighted.”]; Beach-Courchesne v. City of Diamond Bar (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 388, 389 [ 95 Cal.Rptr.2d 265 ] [“A determination of blight is a prerequisite to invoking redevelopment.”].)

This required finding of blight is subject to judicial review in a validation action (Code Civ. Proc., § 860 et seq.), and if there is insufficient evidence that the area is indeed blighted, the court must issue a judgment invalidating the redevelopment plan. (E.g., Sweetwater Valley Civic Assn. v. City of National City, supra, 18 Cal.3d 270 [directing judgment be entered for writ of mandate setting aside redevelopment plan for golf course]; Friends of Mammoth v. Town of Mammoth Lakes Redevelopment Agency (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 511 [ 98 Cal.Rptr.2d 334 ] [lack of evidence of blight for area,…