Neighbors of Cavitt Ranch v. County of Placer

Defendant County of Placer (County) certified a final environmental impact report (FEIR) and approved a conditional use permit (CUP) allowing real party in interest Bayside Covenant Church (Bayside) to proceed with construction of church facilities on 34.6 acres of unimproved property between Sierra College Boulevard and Cavitt-Stallman Road in South Placer County. The Bayside construction was one of two undertakings reviewed in the draft environmental impact reports (DEIR’s) prepared by the County. Neighbors of Cavitt Ranch, an association composed of nearby property owners, and Steven H. Gumee, an individual property owner (collectively Neighbors), sought relief in superior court. The court denied their petition for writ of mandate.

On appeal, the Neighbors argue County did not comply with procedural requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) (CEQA). 1 Central to the procedural challenge is the Neighbors’ claim CEQA required County to prepare separate environmental impact reports (EIR’s) for Bayside’s proposed construction and a residential development promoted by Elliott Homes, Inc. (Elliott), the former owner of…