CEQA Decision and Development Agreements

In the 8/2/09 edition of the LA Times, I ran across an article by Martha Graves entitled, "Judge hinders proposed Wal-Mart supercenter in Rialto."

Well this is timely.

In pertinent part (based on the article, I haven't seen the decision), the developer (Walmart) entered into a Development Agreement with the City of Rialto. A lawsuit was brought (Rialto Citizens for Responsible Growth v. City of Rialto) and Judge Donald R. Alvarez decided that Rialto's approval of the Project violated the California Environmental Quality Act and other land-use laws.

One of the violations identified was that the approved Development Agreement was inconsistent with the City's current general plan and a specific plan.

Huh. That's interesting.

Back in Town

Back in town from what turned out to be a "comedy of errors" business trip (Reno and Yerington).

Night 1 - set off the burglar alarm trying to get the truck out of storage and was "locked into" the storage facility after hours....with the alarm sirens blaring and the mechanical voice yelling "burglary, burglary, burglary." Not at all embarrassing.

Night 2 - the door to my hotel room breaks and I can't get in. After about 30 minutes of laying in the hallway singing various iterations of "nobody knows the trouble I've seen" and watching hotel personnel try one maneuver after another to gain me ingress, they finally end up breaking the window to let me in. Can't believe it took them so long to figure that out. Generally people will move mountains to get me to stop singing.

Day 3 - when checking out of my hotel, I inadvertently turn in my ID with my hotel room key, which I realize after being dropped off at the airport.

I hit the trifecta, eh?!?

In any event, I am back and will resume posting.