Clews Land & Livestock, LLC v. City of San Diego

*171 Plaintiffs Clews Land and Livestock, LLC; Barbara Clews; and Christian Clews (collectively, CLL) appeal a judgment in favor of defendant City of San Diego (City) on CLL's petition for writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief, violation of procedural due process, and equitable estoppel. CLL's petition and complaint challenged the City's approval of a project to build a private secondary school on land neighboring CLL's commercial horse ranch and equestrian facility and the City's adoption of a mitigated negative declaration (MND) regarding the project. The for-profit school, the Cal Coast Academy, is being developed by real parties in interest Jan Dunning, Cal Coast Academy RE Holdings, LLC, and the North County Center for Educational Development, Inc. (collectively, Cal Coast).

*172 CLL contends the court erred by denying its petition and resolving its remaining claims in favor of the City. It argues the City should not have adopted the MND because the Cal Coast Academy project would cause significant environmental impacts in the areas of fire hazards, traffic and transportation, noise, recreation, and historical resources, and because the MND…