Our attorney Kevin Johnson has just filed a lawsuit against the County of Orange and City of Yorba Linda. The Petition covers a suite of arguments and carefully outlines the reasons the approval of the Esperanza Hills project did not follow numerous laws.
There are four causes of action:
- Against the County: Violation of the California Environmental Quality Act
- Against the County: Violation of California Planning and Zoning Law
- Against the City: Violation of the California Environmental Quality Act
- Against the City: Declaratory Relief
The 56 page Petition outlines concerns about the aesthetic, biological resources, geology and soils, noise, fire safety, hazards and hazardous materials, land use, recreation, utilities, traffic, climate change, and cumulative impacts.
We are pleased to report that four other organizations were able to work the lawsuit through their internal systems and become co-petitioners with us. These include: Hills For Everyone, California Native Plant Society, Endangered Habitats League and Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks. There is still time to add other co-petitioners with an amendment of the complaint. If additional groups request inclusion, we will keep you posted when they join.
Here is a link to the press release we sent out to multiple media outlets just before this post became live. Follow this link to get a copy of the Petition.
Thank you and remember we still have our challenge grants. We have to raise nearly $7,000 by the end of the month. Please give as generously as you can. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law for the YL Defense when made to our fiscal sponsor: Hills For Everyone.