Headlands Reserve, LLC v. Center for Natural Lands Management

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Headlands Reserve LLC (“Headlands”) is the owner and developer of a multi-million dollar parcel of oceanfront property in Dana Point, California. Headlands is developing the property for both residential and commercial use. Before Headlands started developing the property, it obtained the necessary approval from the City of Dana Point (“the City”) and the California Coastal Commission (“CCC”), the state agency responsible for ensuring that all development of coastal land complies with the California Coastal Act, Cal. Pub. Res.Code § 30500 (West 1996). Headlands, the City and the CCC all agreed that the development would be subject to the condition that Headlands dedicate and preserve in perpetuity a portion of the property in its natural habitat. To satisfy that condition, Headlands negotiated a sale of a certain portion of the property (the “Conservation Park”) to Defendant Center for Natural Lands Management (“CNLM”), a non-profit organization founded to protect and preserve the natural environment. This lawsuit is the result of what transpired between Headlands and CNLM after that…