HB Neighbors Litigation
A Huntington Beach grassroots organization that wants to limit growth downtown and the number of liquor licenses is moving forward with litigation against a project that will increase development, with a trial date this winter.
The Huntington Beach Neighbors filed a lawsuit against the city in December claiming officials violated the California Environmental Quality Act by not adequately analyzing the impacts the Downtown Specific Plan will have on downtown residents. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to court Jan. 13.
The Neighbors contend officials didn’t complete a proper environmental impact report (EIR), which analyzes the effects the project will have, and want it redone with a new project that reflects more accurate findings.
“We want the city to do proper due diligence,” said Neighbor President David Rice.
The Downtown Specific Plan is a long-range planning document that dictates building and parking specifications and design guidelines and will increase development over the next 20 years.
The group asserts the report did not fully take into account the changes the plan will have on parking, traffic, noise, water and public services, according to the lawsuit.
“The project’s EIR fails to provide adequate information and adequate analysis of the significant adverse environmental impacts associated with this project,” according to the lawsuit. To read the full lawsuit, go to http://www.hbneighbors.com.
See the full story by By Britney Barnes at
at http://www.hbindependent.com/news/tn-hbi-0812-downtown-20100804,0,3366426.story
Are there really 5 active EIR suits being fought against the city right now with my tax dollars? Why haven’t the staff people responsible for writing the EIRs and preparing the underlying studies been fired? In my line of work, If I kept killing my patients, I would be fired. Their job is to follow CEQA in preparing the EIR to avoid litigation expense for the tax payers.
Why is the city Attorney not being held accountable for giving poor advice to the city council by recommending that they approve an erroneous EIR. Did she forget to read it before advising council? Is the city attorney giving poor advice intentionally so that she can have job security for her and her staff? The more lawsuits the city is defending the more staff she needs to hire in her department.