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Areas of Law  |  PUBLIC LAW
Environmental Law

There are two facets to our environmental practice: advice and litigation.

Meyers Nave attorneys have the necessary knowledge and experience to provide advice and counsel to our clients in the land use process to assure compliance with the State Planning and Zoning Law, the California Environmental Quality Act, the Coastal Act and other land use and environmental laws. One of our attorneys has several years' experience as a planner and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

We have assisted cities in updating their general plans and in adopting specific plans. Our attorneys review the draft plans and environmental impact reports, prepare all necessary findings and resolutions, and work with city staff to assure our clients' actions will be as defensible as possible.

We assist our clients in processing conditional use permits and variances to assure that such actions are consistent with applicable general plans and are supported by appropriate findings. We have special expertise in annexation, detachment and incorporation proceedings, including negotiations for property tax sharing agreements.

If land use decisions are challenged in court, as often happens for a variety of reasons, we vigorously defend our clients' decisions. Although no law firm wins every case, Meyers Nave has an outstanding track record in land use and environmental litigation.

Meyers Nave's Land Use and Environmental Law attorneys have the hands-on experience necessary to deliver creativity, insight and results to our public entity clients. All of our group members have represented cities, counties, special districts and other public agencies on a wide range of land use and environmental matters. Members of our group currently serve as city attorney for more than 25 cities in California, and have represented well over 100 other public entities on land use and environmental issues. We also serve as redevelopment counsel to more than 30 agencies, and as general counsel to water districts, sanitation districts, a conference center authority and other special districts.

The land use and environmental law group provides a wide range of services to public agencies including:

  • General and specific plan preparation, interpretation and implementation
  • Negotiation and preparation of development agreements
  • Planned unit developments, variances, conditional use permits, and subdivision maps
  • Subdivision improvement and encroachment agreements
  • Coastal Commission Development Permits and Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission Compliance
  • Regulation of adult businesses and other undesirable uses
  • Clean Water Act compliance/NPDES permitting
  • Wetland Fill Permit Acquisition and Compliance
  • Brownfield remediation
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance
  • AB 939 Solid Waste Compliance

We also provide training and workshops on the following:

  • Implementing the CEQA guidelines
  • Drafting findings and conditions of approval for development projects
  • Variances and conditional use permits
  • Regulating trench cuts on public agency property
  • Clean Water Act enforcement
  • Brown Act and Political Reform Act compliance
  • Regulating adult businesses

Our attorneys are committed to helping our public agency clients avoid disputes and actions associated with land use and environmental regulations. When conflicts are unavoidable, we can help you obtain superior results in an efficient and effective manner.

Head of Group Contact:
Steven T. Mattas
e-mail: smattas@meyersnave.com
To Request a Brochure or Additional Information:
Call Client Relations at 510.808.2000 or
send e-mail to: info@meyersnave.com

Attorneys:
Alm, Kent
Feiertag, Rachel
Goldberg, Leah
Grutzmacher, Edward
Harris, John
Kulkarni, Amrit
McIntosh, Dawn
Newmark, Gregory
Thomsen, Leslie
Wolfson, Sabrina

Links, Resources and Updates Related to this Area:
Briefs and Opinions (1 items)
  • Amicus Brief: Santa Clara Valley Water District

    Company Announcements (3 items)
  • Dawn McIntosh Receives Phoenix Award
  • Multidisciplinary Meyers Nave Team Contributes to Landmark Redevelopment Project
  • Meyers Nave Now Offers Mediation Services

    Conferences and Meetings (10 items)
  • Are There Irreconcilable Differences? -- The Heated Debate Over How to Analyze Global Climate Change Under CEQA
  • California Water Quality: An Introduction to Regulation under State and Federal Law
  • Sustainable Development Strategies: Get Informed and Participate In Developing the Regulations or Get Run Over
  • The Perfect Storm Water
  • Environmental Clean Up: Stop the Bulldozers! That Dirt is Dirty!
  • Endangered Species Act Compliance: Typical Issues and How to Avoid Them
  • CEQA and Climate Change: Options for Compliance
  • CEQA: California Environmental Quality Act
  • Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations in California
  • "How to Address Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases Under CEQA"

    Presentations (3 items)
  • Climate Change: Local Government Response
  • The Perfect Stormwater: Where is the Finish Line for Urban Runoff Control?
  • Partnering with Redevelopment Agencies for Brownfields Reuse

    Press Releases (1 items)
  • Meyers Nave Launches Green Practice Group and "Goes Green"

    Publications (16 items)
  • MN Legal Alert: Filing a Notice of Exemption Triggers a 35-day Statute of Limitations for CEQA-Based Challenge to the Project Approval
  • MN Legal Alert: Even Where No Environmental Review Was Undertaken, 30-Day Statute of Limitations for CEQA Challenge Applies Whenever NOD is Filed
  • MN Legal Alert: Mitigation Measures May Survive Expired Approval
  • MN Legal Alert: To Avoid Mandatory Dismissal, CEQA Petitioner Must File and Serve Written Request For Hearing Within 90 Days Of Filing Petition
  • MN Legal Alert: Supreme Court Rules CEQA Does Not Apply When Agency Declines to Renew Use Permit for Private Applicant
  • MN Legal Alert: First Appellate District Rules CEQA's One-Year Rule for Certifying an EIR not Mandatory
  • MN Legal Alert: Should Local Agencies Consider Proposed High Speed Rail in CEQA Analyses of Local Projects?
  • MN Legal Alert: U.S. District Court Holds that Owners and Operators of Municipal Sewer Systems May Be Liable Under CERCLA for Contamination Caused by Third Parties
  • MN Legal Alert: Two Recent Cases Provide Guidance on Agency Examination of Alternatives, Other Issues, in CEQA Documents
  • MN Legal Alert: Court of Appeal Holds Developer Cannot Sue City for Violations of CEQA and Constitutional Law Where City Rejects Project Before Completing EIR
  • The Impact of Greenhouse Gas Regulations on the Domestic Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry
  • Recent Trend in Green Buildings Laws: Potential Preemption of Green Building and Whether Retrofitting Existing Buildings Will Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Save the Economy
  • Latest OPR CEQA Guidelines Emphasize Local Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plans in CEQA Review
  • MN Legal Alert: Save Tara Case Provides Guidance on Agreements for Development Contingent upon Subsequent CEQA Review
  • Full Summary of California Senate Bill 375
  • MN Legal Alert: SB 375 - Landmark Land Use and Greenhouse Gas State Law Adopted


    Practice Areas within the Public Law Department :
    Municipal Law
    Election Law
    Revenue & Taxation



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