Save Our Residential Environment v. City of West Hollywood

Introduction

This appeal is from a superior court judgment granting a petition for writ of mandate filed by respondent Save Our Residential Environment (SORE), a nonprofit association of property owners and residents, against developer and real party in interest Rossmoor Enterprises, Inc. (Rossmoor) and appellants (respondents below) City of West Hollywood and the City Council of the City of West Hollywood (the City), halting construction of a senior citizen housing development.

Facts

Rossmoor requested permits to construct a six-story residential care facility for senior citizens in the City, which would implement the provisions of the City’s general plan and zoning ordinance calling for housing designed to meet the special needs of the elderly. After preparation and review of an environmental impact report (EIR), the receipt of comments and the holding of several public hearings (the results of which were incorporated into a revised EIR), the City approved Rossmoor’s construction of a scaled-down, five-story facility (the Project). SORE filed a petition for writ of mandate, claiming that the City’s decision was inconsistent with the zoning ordinance and General Plan…