City of Ontario's New Model Colony

Overview

·        Annexation of 8,200 acre Agricultural Preserve

·        Long-term land use and environmental planning for area. 

·        Orderly transition of lands from dairy operations to suburban development.

·        Defend legal challenge to general plan amendment and environmental impact report (“EIR”).

Best Best & Krieger Role

City Attorney

As the City Attorney for the City of Ontario, Best Best & Krieger advised the City on the Local Agency Formation Commission procedures for annexing unincorporated county lands.

Best Best & Krieger assisted the City in preparing the program EIR by

·        Annexation of 8,200 acre Agricultural Preserve.

·        facilitating document preparation

·        coordinating with environmental consultants

·        advising the City on California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)  requirements

·        preparing responses to public comments

·        drafting resolutions and ordinances adopting the amendment and EIR

·        filing all required CEQA notices.

Best Best & Krieger successfully defended at the trial court level a lawsuit challenging the legal sufficiency of the EIR brought by the Sierra Club and the Endangered Habitats League. When the trial court decision in the City’s favor was appealed it threatened to delay development of the New Model Colony for many years. Best Best & Krieger assisted the City Manager in negotiating a settlement. Development plans are now moving forward rapidly in what promises to be one of the largest and most desirable new towns in Southern California.

For more information on this project or any other  CEQA or ESA matters, please contact Jennifer Buckman at the Sacramento office (916) 325-4000 or Michelle Ouellette or Steve Anderson at the Riverside office, (951) 686-1450.