Citizens for Responsible Development v. City of West Hollywood

I

Introduction

Petitioner and appellant, Citizens for Responsible Development in West Hollywood (Citizens), is composed of neighbors who oppose the April 4, 1994, approval of a 40-unit low-income housing project by the City of West Hollywood (City) and the City Council of the City of West Hollywood (City Council) to be located in their neighborhood at 976-988V2 Palm Avenue. The project is intended as low-income housing for persons with AIDS and is part of an ongoing effort to provide low-income housing to the needy.

The project is proposed by respondent West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (Housing Corporation), a nonprofit community based organization.

The project provides for the rehabilitation and restoration of the two front craftsman-style buildings located on the property (Historic Structures) and the demolition of the remaining four buildings in the rear (Rear Structures).

The underlying petition raises a single challenge to the project—whether, pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21084.1, the City was required to proceed with an EIR (environmental impact report) rather than a mitigated negative declaration to address the project’s impacts on the…