Holland & Knight attorneys secured a win for 600 Foothill Owner LP, a project sponsored by Cedar Street Partners LLC, by challenging the City of La Cañada Flintridge's denial of a mixed-use development project with 80 mixed-income residential dwelling units, 14 hotel units and 7,791 square feet of office space as a violation of the California Housing Accountability Act.
On March 4, Judge Mitchell Beckloff with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County ruled that the City unlawfully denied the mixed-use housing development project and ordered a writ to direct the City to process 600 Foothill Owner's application in accordance with the Housing Accountability Act.
The City disapproved 600 Foothill Owner's mixed-use project on the basis of zoning and general plan inconsistency. The builder's remedy element of the Housing Accountability Act prevents a city from denying a housing development project consisting of at 20 percent low-income housing, even if that project is inconsistent with the zoning and general plan, so long as the city does not have a substantially compliant housing element. The lawsuit, filed by 600 Foothill Owner, claimed that the City's efforts to deny the project constitute a violation of the Housing Accountability Act, as well as a number of other laws.
Holland & Knight Partner Ryan Leaderman led the firm's representation of 600 Foothill Owner. He was assisted by Partner Sarah Marsey and Associates Kevin Ashe, William Sterling, Jacqueline Harvey, Jacob Barrera and Ana Dragojevic.
"This is a great project that will provide much-needed housing where no affordable housing has been developed in decades, if ever," said Mr. Leaderman. "We are thankful to Governor Newsom, the Attorney General's office, the California Housing and Community Development Department, as well as the California Housing Defense Fund for their strong advocacy and involvement in this important housing litigation addressing builder's remedy."
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