Date: 12-14-2019

Case Style:

Case Number: D074474

Judge: Aaron, J.

Court: California Court of Appeals Fourth Appellate District, Division One on appeal from the Superior Court, County of San Diego

Plaintiff's Attorney: Felix M. Tinkov

Defendant's Attorney: Mara W. Elliott, Glenn T. Spitzer and Tyler Louis Krentz

Description: Plaintiffs Lark Holden and James Stansell1 appeal a judgment denying their
petition for writ of mandate challenging decisions by the City of San Diego and City
Council for the City of San Diego (collectively City) to grant a California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.)2 exemption for a residential
development project proposed by IDEA Enterprise, LP (IDEA) in the North Park area of
City and to approve the project. On appeal, Holden contends that: (1) City abused its
discretion by granting a CEQA exemption for the project; and (2) City erred by
approving the project with a residential density less than that required by its general plan
(General Plan). As we explain post, the trial court did not err in denying the petition.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 2014, IDEA submitted an application to City for the demolition of two existing
single-family houses on adjacent parcels and construction of seven detached residential
condominium units on the 0.517-acre aggregate site on Indiana Street in City's North
Park community (Project). The Project's site is located on the western hillside of a
canyon with a 35- to 41-degree down slope; the site is considered to be environmentally
sensitive land. The Project would cover approximately 42 percent of the site.
1 On May 3, 2019, appellants' counsel informed this court that Stansell had passed
away. On June 11, 2019, we issued an order dismissing Stansell's appeal. Accordingly,
Holden is the sole appellant in this appeal.
2 All statutory references are to the Public Resources Code unless otherwise
specified.
3
In 2015, City's planning staff initially informed IDEA that the Project did not
comply with the minimum density required for development of the site under City's
General Plan and its Greater North Park Community Plan (Community Plan).
Specifically, the planning staff told IDEA that a minimum of 16 residential units would
be required under Policy LU-C.4 of the General Plan and the housing element of the
Community Plan. However, in late 2015, City's staff informed IDEA that the Project
could be approved with seven residential units, citing the site's environmental sensitivity,
which made a reduced density of seven residential units appropriate.
In November 2015, the North Park Community Planning Group voted to
recommend approval of the Project without conditions. In 2016, a preliminary review by
City's staff concluded that the Project was categorically exempt from CEQA
requirements because it qualified as an infill development project pursuant to section
15332 of the California Code of Regulations, title 14, division 6, chapter 3 (Guidelines).
In order for a project to qualify as an infill development project under the exemption set
forth in section 15332 of the Guidelines, the project must, inter alia, be "consistent with
the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies . . . ."
(Id., § 15332, subd. (a).) City proceeded to issue an environmental determination that the
Project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to section 15332 of the Guidelines.
The City Council denied an appeal challenging that determination. On January 19, 2017,
City's planning commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve the
Project's tentative map and site development permit. On April 18, the City Council
unanimously voted to approve the tentative map and site development permit for the
4
Project. City thereafter filed a notice of exemption declaring that the Project was
categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to section 15332 of the Guidelines.
In May 2017, Holden and Stansell filed a petition for writ of mandate challenging
both City's determination that the Project is exempt from CEQA and its approval of the
Project. The trial court denied the petition, stating in part:
"The first issue is whether substantial evidence supports the City's
determination to approve the project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines
section 15332. [¶] Petitioners contend that . . . City avoided its duty
to perform an environmental review despite the [P]roject's failure to
meet the density minimum required under [General Plan] Policy LUC.4.
It reads: 'Ensure efficient use of remaining land available for
residential development and redevelopment by requiring that new
development meet the density minimums of applicable plan
designations.' (AR 56:2311.) They state that [IDEA] was required
to develop multi-family housing within a medium-high density of
30-44 dwelling units per acre. (AR 50:2033.) In short, Petitioners
argue for the application of a rigid minimum density requirement.
However, [General Plan Policy] LU-C.2 specifically directs the City
to '[r]ely on community plans for site-specific land use and density
designations and recommendations.' (AR 56:2310.) Furthermore, a
note on Figure 6 of the Plan Elements sections of the . . . Community
Plan states that '[t]he residential density recommendations may be
subject to modification during implementation of this plan.' (AR
45:1960.) Also, the Implementation Program within that section
provides '[t]he achievability of the recommended densities may be
predicated upon the design standards, development regulations and
other regulations of the implementing legislation.' In sum, as the
City's counsel pointed out at oral argument, a certain amount of
flexibility was contemplated by the City and built into the process.
"The record indicates that the City balanced the density requirements
against the topography of the land and its accompanying restrictions
to come up with a plan that generated the maximum possible density
allowable under the circumstances. In other words, the project
minimized the impacts to the environmentally sensitive lands
through the planning of several smaller scaled detached dwelling
units sited across the eastern frontage of the property that are
designed on stilts to elevate the detached structures to natural land-
5
form. (AR 4:14-16, 8:58, 41:1640-1644.) Thus, the Court
concludes that substantial evidence exists to support the City's
decision to rely on [Guidelines] section 15332 for infill
development.
"The second issue is whether a [G]eneral [P]lan amendment was
required. Given the fact that the Community Plan, as noted above,
allows for the modification of the recommended densities based
upon implementation and consideration of applicable regulations,
[the] Court concludes that a [G]eneral [P]lan amendment pursuant to
[General Plan Policy] LU-D.1 was not necessary in this case."
On April 27, 2018, the court entered an amended judgment against Holden and
Stansell. Holden and Stansell timely filed a notice of appeal challenging the amended
judgment.
DISCUSSION
I
CEQA and Standards of Review
"CEQA and its implementing regulations 'embody California's strong public
policy of protecting the environment.' " (Bottini v. City of San Diego (2018) 27
Cal.App.5th 281, 291 (Bottini).) "CEQA establishes a three-tier environmental review
process. The first step is jurisdictional and requires a public agency to determine whether
a proposed activity is a 'project.' . . . If a proposed activity is a project, the agency
proceeds to the second step of the CEQA process. [¶] At the second step, the agency
must 'decide whether the project is exempt from the CEQA review process under either a
statutory exemption [citation] or a categorical exemption set forth in the . . . Guidelines
[citations].' . . . [¶] Unlike statutory exceptions, categorical exemptions are subject to
exceptions. . . . [¶] If a project is categorically exempt and does not fall within an
6
exception, ' "it is not subject to CEQA requirements and 'may be implemented without
any CEQA compliance whatsoever.' " ' " (Id. at pp. 291-292.) "[I]f a project is not
exempt, the agency must then 'decide whether the project may have a significant
environmental effect.' " (Id. at p. 292.) "[I]f the project may have a significant effect on
the environment, the agency must proceed to the third step of the process and prepare an
environmental impact report (EIR)." (Ibid.)
On an appeal challenging a trial court's denial of a petition for a writ of mandate in
a CEQA case, our task is the same as the trial court's. (Banker's Hill, Hillcrest, Park
West Community Preservation Group v. City of San Diego (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 249,
257 (Banker's Hill).) We conduct our review of the agency's action independently of the
trial court's findings. (Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc. v. City of Encinitas
(1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 1597, 1602, fn. 3.) Accordingly, in this appeal we review City's
decision and not the trial court's. (Banker's Hill, at p. 257.)
A public agency's "determination that [a particular] project [is] exempt from
compliance with CEQA requirements . . . is subject to judicial review under the abuse of
discretion standard in . . . section 21168.5. [Citations.] . . . Abuse of discretion is
established if the agency has not proceeded in a manner required by law or if the
determination or decision is not supported by substantial evidence. [Citation.] [¶]
Where the issue turns only on an interpretation of the language of the Guidelines or the
scope of a particular CEQA exemption, this presents 'a question of law, subject to de
novo review by this court.' [Citations.] Our task is 'to determine whether, as a matter of
law, the [project] met the definition of a categorically exempt project.' [Citation.]
7
Thus[,] as to the question [of law] whether the activity comes within the categorical class
of exemptions, 'we apply a de novo standard of review, not a substantial evidence
standard.' " (Save Our Carmel River v. Monterey Peninsula Water Management Dist.
(2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 677, 693-694 (Save Our Carmel River).)
In contrast, where a public agency makes a factual determination that a project
falls within a statutory or categorical exemption, we apply the substantial evidence
standard in reviewing the agency's finding. (Banker's Hill, supra, 139 Cal.App.4th at
p. 267; CREED-21 v. City of San Diego (2015) 234 Cal.App.4th 488, 510-511 (CREED-
21); San Lorenzo Valley Community Advocates for Responsible Education v. San Lorenzo
Valley Unified School Dist. (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 1356, 1382; Fairbank v. City of Mill
Valley (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1243, 1251.) In particular, in this case we apply the
substantial evidence standard of review to City's factual finding that the Project is
consistent with the General Plan and the Community Plan. (Cf. Banker's Hill, at
pp. 267-268.)
In applying the substantial evidence standard, we review the administrative record
of the public agency's decision (e.g., agency's determination that a CEQA exemption
applies to a project) for substantial evidence to support that decision. (Western States
Petroleum Assn. v. Superior Court (1995) 9 Cal.4th 559, 570-571 (Western States);
CREED-21, supra, 234 Cal.App.4th at p. 510; Great Oaks Water Co. v. Santa Clara
Valley Water Dist. (2009) 170 Cal.App.4th 956, 968 (Great Oaks).) Substantial evidence
is evidence of ponderable legal significance that is reasonable in nature, credible, and of
solid value. (Banker's Hill, supra, 139 Cal.App.4th at p. 261, fn. 10.) In applying the
8
substantial evidence standard of review, all conflicts in the evidence are resolved in favor
of the prevailing party and all legitimate and reasonable inferences are made to support
the agency's decision. (Western States, at p. 571; Great Oaks, at p. 968.) When two or
more inferences reasonably can be deduced from the evidence, we cannot substitute our
deductions for those of the agency. (Western States, at pp. 571-572.)
II
City's Finding That the Project Is Exempt from CEQA
Holden contends that City erred by finding that the Project is exempt from CEQA
under the categorical exemption for infill development. In particular, he argues that the
Project provides for less residential density than is required by the General Plan and
therefore, does not satisfy the requirements for an infill development exemption.
A
City concluded that the Project is exempt from CEQA because it satisfies the
requirements for a categorical exemption for infill development under Guidelines section
15332. Guidelines section 15332 states that infill development is exempt from CEQA if
it meets the following conditions:
"(a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan
designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with
applicable zoning designation and regulations.
"(b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project
site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban
uses.
"(c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or
threatened species.
9
"(d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant
effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
"(e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and
public services." (Italics added.)
Projects that are exempt under Guidelines section 15332 are referred to as
"Class 32" infill development projects. (Guidelines, § 15332.)
As stated ante, Guidelines section 15332(a) requires, inter alia, that the project be
"consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan
policies . . . ." "General plans ordinarily do not state specific mandates or prohibitions.
Rather, they state 'policies,' and set forth 'goals.' " (Napa Citizens for Honest Government
v. Napa County Bd. of Supervisors (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 342, 378 (Napa Citizens).) A
project is consistent with a general plan if it will further the objectives and policies of the
general plan and not obstruct their attainment. (Corona-Norco Unified School Dist. v.
City of Corona (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 985, 994.) To be consistent with a general plan, a
project must be compatible with the objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs
specified in the general plan. (Ibid.; Gov. Code, § 66473.5.) "The question is not
whether there is a direct conflict between some mandatory provision of a general plan
and some aspect of a project, but whether the project is compatible with, and does not
frustrate, the general plan's goals and policies." (Napa Citizens, at p. 378.) The
requirement that a project be consistent with a general plan does not require the project to
rigidly conform to the general plan. (San Franciscans Upholding the Downtown Plan v.
City and County of San Francisco (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 656, 678 (San Franciscans
Upholding).) "State law does not require perfect conformity between a proposed project
10
and the applicable general plan . . . ." (Friends of Lagoon Valley v. City of Vacaville
(2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 807, 817.) "[G]eneral and specific plans attempt to balance a
range of competing interests. It follows that it is nearly, if not absolutely, impossible for
a project to be in perfect conformity with each and every policy set forth in the applicable
plan. . . . It is enough that the proposed project will be compatible with the objectives,
policies, general land uses and programs specified in the applicable plan." (Sierra Club
v. County of Napa (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 1490, 1510-1511 (Sierra Club), italics added.)
We give great deference to a public agency's finding of consistency with its own
general plan. (San Franciscans Upholding, supra, 102 Cal.App.4th at pp. 677-678.) One
court explained the reasoning for such deference, stating: "When we review an agency's
decision for consistency with its own general plan, we accord great deference to the
agency's determination. This is because the body which adopted the general plan policies
in its legislative capacity has unique competence to interpret those policies when
applying them in its adjudicatory capacity. [Citation.] Because policies in a general plan
reflect a range of competing interests, the governmental agency must be allowed to weigh
and balance the plan's policies when applying them, and it has broad discretion to
construe its policies in light of the plan's purposes. [Citations.] A reviewing court's role
'is simply to decide whether the city officials considered the applicable policies and the
extent to which the proposed project conforms with those policies.' " (Save Our
Peninsula Committee v. Monterey County Bd. of Supervisors (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 99,
142 (Save Our Peninsula Committee).) "A city's findings that the project is consistent
with its general plan can be reversed only if it is based on evidence from which no
11
reasonable person could have reached the same conclusion." (A Local & Regional
Monitor v. City of Los Angeles (1993) 16 Cal.App.4th 630, 648 (A Local & Regional
Monitor).) Further, the party challenging a public agency's determination of general plan
consistency has the burden to show why that determination is unreasonable. (Pfeiffer v.
City of Sunnyvale City Council (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 1552, 1563.)
B
In arguing that the Project is inconsistent with the General Plan, Holden primarily
relies on Policy LU-C.4 of the General Plan, which states that one of the General Plan's
policies for community planning is to "[e]nsure efficient use of remaining land available
for residential development and redevelopment by requiring that new development meet
the density minimums of applicable plan designations." Table LU-C.4 of the General
Plan recommends that residential areas designated as "Medium High" provide for multifamily
housing with a density range of 30- to 44-dwelling units per acre. As IDEA and
City note, Policy LU-C.1 of the General Plan states that another of the General Plan's
policies is to "[e]stablish each community plan as an essential and integral component of
the City's General Plan with clear implementation recommendations" and provides, in
particular, that City should "[r]ely on community plans for site-specific land use and
density designations and recommendations." Thus, the density designations and
recommendations set forth in the Community Plan for site-specific land use are deemed
to be an integral component of the General Plan and are therefore effectively integrated
with and incorporated into the General Plan.
12
Applying the density designations and recommendations set forth in the
Community Plan's housing element to the Project, the City Council found, and the parties
agree, that the Project falls within an area designated by the Community Plan for
recommended "medium-high" residential densities of 30- to 45-dwelling units per acre.
The Community Plan's residential density recommendations in its housing element
section includes Figure 6, which is a residential density map that illustrates recommended
residential densities for specific areas within the North Park community, and Table 2,
which designates in table form the recommended residential densities for those specific
areas. Based on the City Council's findings, the Project appears to fall geographically
within area 16 of Figure 6, an area for which the Community Plan recommends a
medium-high residential density of 30- to 45-dwelling units per acre. Therefore, as the
City Council found, the Project, consisting of about 0.52 of an acre, ordinarily would be
required to have 16- to 23-dwelling units pursuant to the General Plan's Policy LU-C.4,
which adopts "the density minimums of applicable plan designations" (e.g., the
residential designations and densities recommended in Table 2 and Figure 6 of the
Community Plan).
Although the Project ordinarily would be required by the General Plan and the
Community Plan to have 16- to 23-dwelling units, the City Council further found:
"[D]ue to the existing site development constraints with a heavily vegetated urban canyon
and environmentally sensitive steep hillsides on the premises, a lower density of seven
units at this site represents a more sensitive approach to this unique area and [General
Plan] Policy LU-C.4 can be supported for the proposed density related to canyon and
13
hillside preservation in the community." In support of that finding, City cited to a note
on Figure 6 of the Community Plan, which states: "The residential density
recommendations may be subject to modification during implementation of this plan."
(Italics added.) Further, the implementation program subsection of the Community Plan's
housing element states in relevant part: "Refinements and modifications to the
boundaries and recommended densities for the various residential areas may be
incorporated into the implementing legislation. In addition, the achievability of the
recommended densities may be [predicated] upon the design standards, development
regulations and other regulations of the implementing legislation." (Italics added.)
City's implementing legislation includes its regulations for development of
environmentally sensitive lands, which are found at San Diego Municipal Code (Mun.
Code) section 143.0101 et seq. City's environmentally sensitive lands regulations apply
to all proposed development when environmentally sensitive lands are present on the
premises. (Mun. Code, § 143.0110.) Environmentally sensitive lands include premises
that contain steep hillsides. (Mun. Code, § 143.0110(a)(2).) Section 143.0142 of the
Municipal Code provides that "[d]evelopment that proposes encroachment into steep
hillsides . . . is subject to the following regulations and the Steep Hillside Guidelines in
the Land Development Manual." Those steep hillside regulations include a limitation on
the allowable development areas and, in particular, provide that, outside of certain
protected areas, "[s]teep hillsides shall be preserved in their natural state, except that
14
development is permitted in steep hillsides if necessary to achieve a maximum
development area of 25 percent of the premises."3 (Mun. Code, § 143.0142(a)(2).)
In approving the Project and determining that it is exempt from CEQA, the City
Council found that the Project is consistent with the policies, goals, and objectives of the
General Plan. In particular, it found that although Policy LU-C.4 of the General Plan
requires new development to meet the density requirements of the Community Plan,
which ordinarily would require 16- to 23-dwelling units on the Project's 0.52-acre site,
"due to the existing site development constraints with a heavily vegetated urban canyon
and environmentally sensitive steep hillsides on the premises, a lower density of seven
units at this site represents a more sensitive approach to this unique area and [General
Plan] Policy LU-C.4 can be supported for the proposed density related to canyon and
hillside preservation in the community." The City Council found that "the density and
scale of the [Project] strikes a balance between the permissible Medium-High Residential
development and the existing dense vegetation of the canyon south-east of the site." It
stated: "The Project site's topography is comprised of nearly 80% of steep hillside slopes
3 City's steep hillside regulations further provide that "[a]ll development occurring
in steep hillsides shall comply with the design standards identified in the Steep Hillside
Guidelines in the Land Development Manual for the type of development proposed."
(Mun. Code, § 143.0142(b).) Because those Steep Hillside Guidelines are not part of the
record on appeal, we need not, and do not, discuss their applicability to the Project or
their relevance to the City Council's determination that the Project is exempt from
CEQA.
15
with grades ranging from 253.5 feet to 300.2 feet. This change in topography has created
the development design for the units to establish the building massing by vertically
stacking three floor levels (two above street level and one below basement) with minimal
setback from the street and elevated on stilts to the rear on each unit. The development
layout of separated, low-lying buildings, benefits the surrounding neighborhood by
minimizing the impact to the natural topography of the site and maximizing on-site open
spaces as well as maintaining several significant trees on the site. Due to these
constraints, the proposed design provides a uniquely different product of seven detached
dwellings, elevated above the terrain and cushioned within the existing vegetation of the
existing urban canyon."
The City Council further found: "The steep hillside terrain makes it challenging to
achieve the minimum dwelling unit density permissible under the . . . Community Plan
without extensive steep hillside grading and clearance of the existing vegetation. The
Project with the proposed lower density of seven detached dwelling units and hillside stilt
structure construction is a suitable balance of providing an urban infill on
environmentally sensitive steep hillsides and the retention and regeneration of the highly
vegetated canyon. Therefore, the site is physically suitable for the type and density of
development." The City Council expressly found that the Project is consistent with the
Community Plan and City's environmental regulations. It stated: "The [Project's]
creation of seven new dwellings, where there existed two units, would assist the housing
needs of the North Park area community."
16
The City Council also specifically found that the Project conformed to City's steep
hillside regulations, stating:
"The site is currently developed with two single-family residential
units above an urban canyon's steep hillside with a 35-41% down
slope gradient, east to southeast. The entire site (100%) is
considered steep hillsides and the existing development encompasses
22% of the site. The Project proposes to demolish the existing units
and construct the new multi-family detached units which will
encompass 42% of the site. [¶] Although the development exceeds
the 25% threshold for encroachment into steep hillsides, the Project
does not conflict with any other development regulations for the site.
Consistent with the Steep Hillsides Guidelines standards for multiple
dwelling unit development, the proposed Project's design will
respect existing natural landforms, minimize impacts to steep
hillsides, the graded development pad areas will blend with the
existing topography, the site improvements are designed and located
to minimize impacts to the steep hillside, [and] the design and
placement of the structures will respect the steep hillside
character . . . ."
The City Council also found that the Project's proposed use and design met the purpose
and intent of the Community Plan and would not adversely affect the Community Plan or
the General Plan. Accordingly, the City Council approved the Project.
The extensive findings by the City Council, as discussed ante, show that it
considered the General Plan, the Community Plan, and City's steep hillside development
regulations in approving the Project and, in so doing, expressly balanced the competing
interests of the General Plan and the Community Plan's policies and objectives of
providing multifamily housing with a medium-high density at the Project's site against
the purpose of City's steep hillside regulations to protect such environmentally sensitive
lands. Based on our review of the record, we conclude that City acted reasonably and did
not abuse its discretion by balancing those competing, and necessarily (in this case)
17
conflicting, policies and regulations and finding that the Project's density of seven
dwelling units conformed to the General Plan, the Community Plan, and City's steep
hillside development regulations. (Save Our Peninsula Committee, supra, 87
Cal.App.4th at p. 142; A Local & Regional Monitor, supra, 16 Cal.App.4th at p. 648.) In
particular, City reasonably could find that because of the Project's steep hillside
topography, it would be impractical to construct 16- to 23-dwelling units on the Project's
site and that such density would be inconsistent with its steep hillside development
regulations that apply to the site. Therefore, City could reasonably conclude that the
construction of seven dwelling units, as proposed by IDEA, is consistent with the General
Plan, the Community Plan, and City's steep hillside regulations. Alternatively stated,
City reasonably concluded, albeit implicitly, that the Project is compatible with the
objectives, policies, general land uses, and programs specified in the General Plan and the
Community Plan. (Sierra Club, supra, 121 Cal.App.4th at p. 1511.)
As discussed ante, we defer to City's finding of consistency with the General Plan
and the Community Plan. City adopted both plans in its legislative capacity and
therefore, has unique competence to interpret the policies set forth in those policies when
applying them in its adjudicatory capacity. (Save Our Peninsula Committee, supra, 87
Cal.App.4th at p. 142.) Accordingly, we conclude that there is substantial evidence to
support City's finding that the Project is consistent with the General Plan and the
Community Plan. (Cf. Banker's Hill, supra, 139 Cal.App.4th at p. 267.) Because there is
substantial evidence to support City's finding that the Project is consistent with the
General Plan and the Community Plan, it follows that there is also substantial evidence to
18
support its finding that the Project is exempt from CEQA as infill development pursuant
to Guidelines section 15332 and, in particular, its implicit finding that "[t]he project is
consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all general plan policies"
within the meaning of Guidelines section 15332, subdivision (a). We therefore conclude
that City did not abuse its discretion by finding the Project is exempt from CEQA.4
(§ 21168.5; Save Our Carmel River, supra, 141 Cal.App.4th at p. 693 [abuse of
discretion standard applies in reviewing agency's determination that project is exempt
from CEQA].)
C
Contrary to Holden's assertion, the General Plan's density designations and
recommendations are not rigid and can be adjusted or modified for certain areas or sites
as provided in community plans. As stated ante, Policy LU-C.1 of the General Plan
makes "each community plan [e.g., the Community Plan] . . . an essential and integral
component of the City's General Plan" and provides, in particular, that City should "[r]ely
on community plans for site-specific land use and density designations and
recommendations." As a result of that language, the Community Plan's density
designations and recommendations for site-specific land use are deemed to be an integral
4 To the extent that the issues discussed ante involve pure questions of law, as
Holden asserts, our independent interpretation of the General Plan, the Community Plan,
City's environmentally sensitive lands regulations, and other relevant laws and
regulations would not change our conclusions and disposition of this appeal.
19
component of the General Plan and are therefore effectively integrated with and
incorporated into the General Plan. Because the provisions of the General Plan and the
Community Plan must be construed together, we reject Holden's claim that the
Community Plan's provisions cannot vary from, or modify, the density designations and
recommendations set forth in the General Plan. We likewise reject Holden's related
assertion that the General Plan must be amended before City may allow development of a
site with a density less than that recommended in the General Plan.5 Rather, if a
proposed project is consistent with the General Plan, the Community Plan, and City's
development regulations, the density recommended by the General Plan for certain
designated areas (e.g., medium-high residential areas) need not be rigidly followed.6
5 Although, as Holden notes, Policy LU-D.1 of the General Plan "[r]equire[s] a
General Plan and community plan amendment for proposals that involve: a change in
community plan adopted land use or density/intensity range," where a proposed project,
such as the Project, is consistent with the General Plan and the Community Plan, no
amendment is required to the density recommendations set forth in those plans.
6 Accordingly, Holden's citations to Municipal Code sections 122.0105(a) and
122.0102 do not persuade us to reach a contrary conclusion. Municipal Code section
122.0105(a) provides: "Land use plans and land use plan amendments shall be initiated
in accordance with the General Plan Land Use Elements." (Mun. Code, § 122.0105(a).)
Because we construe the General Plan and the Community Plan together as an integrated
document, we do not look solely to the General Plan's density designations and
recommendations for the Project's site. Similarly, Municipal Code section 122.0102
provides: "Any planning or development proposal that would require adoption or
amendment of a land use plan shall be reviewed in accordance with this division."
Because, as discussed ante, the Project is consistent with the General Plan and the
Community Plan, the Project does not require any adoption or amendment to a land use
plan requiring review under Municipal Code section 122.0102. For the same reasons,
Municipal Code section 121.0302(b)(3), also cited by Holden, is likewise inapplicable.
Municipal Code section 121.0302(b) provides: "It is unlawful for any person to engage
in any of the following activities, or cause any of the following activities to occur in a
20
(San Franciscans Upholding, supra, 102 Cal.App.4th at p. 678; Sierra Club, supra, 121
Cal.App.4th at pp. 1510-1511.) We are not persuaded by Holden's assertion that the
General Plan's designations and density recommendations are not, in fact,
"recommendations" but are instead absolute mandates setting forth rigid density ranges
for development of property within City's boundaries. Further, because the Project is
consistent with the General Plan, the Community Plan, and City's steep hillside
development regulations, no project-specific land use plan was required for the Project.
Thus, Municipal Code section 143.0115, cited by Holden, is inapplicable.7 Holden does
not show otherwise.
Finally, although Holden's opening brief alludes to his claim in the trial court that
City did not comply with Government Code section 65863 in approving the Project, we
conclude that Holden waived or forfeited that argument both in the trial court and on
appeal. "When an appellant fails to raise a point, or asserts it but fails to support it with
reasoned argument and citations to authority, we treat the point as waived." (Benach v.
County of Los Angeles (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 836, 852 (Benach).) Alternatively stated,
"[w]here a point is merely asserted by [appellant] without any [substantive] argument of
or authority for its proposition, it is deemed to be without foundation and requires no
manner contrary to the provisions of the Land Development Code: [¶] . . . [¶] . . . [¶]
(3) To change density or intensity of the use of land. . . ."
7 Municipal Code section 143.0115 provides in part: "Project-specific land use
plans . . . proposed for sites where environmentally sensitive lands are present, are subject
to the regulations in this section . . . ." (Mun. Code, § 143.0115(a).)
21
discussion." (People v. Ham (1970) 7 Cal.App.3d 768, 783 (Ham).) "Issues do not have
a life of their own: if they are not raised or supported by [substantive] argument or
citation to authority, we consider the issues waived." (Jones v. Superior Court (1994) 26
Cal.App.4th 92, 99 (Jones); see also Cahill v. San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (2011) 194
Cal.App.4th 939, 956 (Cahill) [same]; Landry v. Berryessa Union School Dist. (1995) 39
Cal.App.4th 691, 699-700 (Landry) ["[w]hen an issue is unsupported by pertinent or
cognizable legal argument it may be deemed abandoned and discussion by the reviewing
court is unnecessary"].) The record shows that Holden raised Government Code section
65863 in the trial court only in a footnote in his opening brief and without any substantive
legal analysis. In footnote 4 on page 9 of that trial court brief, Holden stated: "The
General Plan's expansive direction to enforce residential density minimums is aligned
with the State's legislative prohibition against the reduction of residential densities.
[(Gov. Code [,] § 65863[)]. We note the City simply ignores this statutory requirement
notwithstanding its inconsistency with the General Plan. [(]Gov. Code [,] § 65863
[subd.] (b)(1), (2) [)]." Holden neither quoted the relevant language of that statute nor
provided any substantive legal analysis showing that City was required to comply with
that statutory provision and failed to do so. Because Holden did not adequately raise and
discuss the Government Code section 65863 issue in the trial court, he is precluded from
raising that issue on appeal. (Mattco Forge, Inc. v. Arthur Young & Co. (1997) 52
Cal.App.4th 820, 847; cf. Benach at p. 852 [waiver of issue on appeal for absence of
substantive analysis]; Jones, at p. 99 [same].)
22
Holden's opening brief also failed to provide any substantive legal analysis
showing that City erred in its purported noncompliance with Government Code section
65863. In support of his argument that "[p]roposals to develop below the designated
range could similarly result in uneven development relative to neighboring properties and
reduce much-needed housing in a time of historic shortage," Holden cites to Government
Code section 65863 and then describes its substance in brackets as follows: "[requiring
cities to ensure that regional housing needs be met through the implementation of their
general plans with regard to individual residential developments]" and then refers us to
footnote 2.8 An appellant cannot bury a substantive legal argument in a footnote and
hope to avoid waiver of that argument. (Sabi v. Sterling (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 916,
947 ["Footnotes are not the appropriate vehicle for stating contentions on appeal."];
Unilogic, Inc. v. Burroughs Corp. (1992) 10 Cal.App.4th 612, 624, fn. 2 ["We do not
view as adequate to preserve an issue on appeal . . . one footnote mention of [it]"];
8 Footnote 2 on page 14 states: "We note here that the City, [IDEA], and the trial
court, all failed to address [Holden's] claim that the approval of the Project violates
Government Code [§] 65863. . . . This provision prohibits cities from allowing
residential development of any parcel at lower residential densities absent certain
findings which the City failed [to] make with regard to the Project's approval. (Gov.
Code[,] § 65863 [subd.] (b)(1) [requiring that an action which permits the reduction of
density below the range defined in a general plan must include findings that (1) declare
consistency with the housing element; and (2) identify remaining sites in the housing
element in a manner quantifiably sufficient to accommodate the City's share of the
regional housing needs at each income level, and define the remaining capacity of
existing site to meet these housing needs by income level.]; Gov. Code[,] § [65863]
[subd.] (g)(1), (2).) The administrative record[] shows that the City violated this
provision of state law. The City's and [IDEA's] silence on these points infer they do not
contest this violation."
23
Alexander v. Exxon Mobil (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1236, 1260, fn. 10 [argument raised in
footnote without analysis or discussion is waived]; Roberts v. Lomanto (2003) 112
Cal.App.4th 1553, 1562 [assertions raised only in footnote may be properly disregarded];
Evans v. Centerstone Development Co. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 151, 160 ["We do not
have to consider issues discussed only in a footnote."].) Because Holden does not
provide any proper substantive legal analysis on his Government Code section 65863
claim, we consider it to be forfeited or waived and therefore disregard it and do not
address its merits. (Benach, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th at p. 852; Ham, supra, 7 Cal.App.3d
at p. 783; Jones, supra, 26 Cal.App.4th at p. 99; Cahill, supra, 194 Cal.App.4th at p. 956;
Landry, supra, 39 Cal.App.4th at pp. 699-700.)
III
City's Approval of the Project
Relying on many of the same arguments discussed ante, Holden contends that City
erred by approving the Project because it did not comply with the General Plan's
designation and density recommendations that apply to its site. We rejected those
arguments in section II, ante. Incorporating our discussions of those arguments herein,
we conclude that City did not err by finding that the Project was consistent with the
General Plan's density designations and recommendations and, based thereon, approving
the Project. The trial court thus did not err in denying Holden's petition for writ of
mandate.

Outcome: The judgment is affirmed.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: