Court of Appeal Publishes Opinion in Hotly Debated Community Redevelopment Case

The Court of Appeal has published its December opinion in JSM Rivara, LLC v. the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles (JSM Rivara, LLC v. CRA/LA).

Its publication underscores the importance of the case for redevelopment agencies around the state. JSM Rivara, LLC v. CRA/LA raised significant questions, as well as public debate, about the extent to which redevelopment agencies have the authority, under the state’s Community Redevelopment Law, to impose design and development controls to implement redevelopment plans. The Court’s affirmation that the actions of the CRA/LA in this case carried out the mandates of state law, rather than local laws, represented a major victory for redevelopment agencies in their efforts to eliminate blight and revitalize communities. The Court also clarified the application of state density bonus requirements in redevelopment areas.

Read the published opinion here.

This opinion is a resounding victory for redevelopment agencies seeking to adopt and implement redevelopment plans to revitalize their communities. For further information, please contact Deborah Fox.