Sandoval v. County of Santa Barbara

Case Number

24CV04379

Case Type

Hearing Date / Time

Wed, 06/11/2025 - 10:00

Nature of Proceedings

Motion to Compel

Tentative Ruling

For PLAINTIFF: Stephen M. Sanders, Jeff G. Coyner.

For POLODONKEY, LLC: Jeff F. Tchakarov, Todd A. Amspoker.

For COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA: Rachel Van Mullem, Amber Holderness, Valerie A. Janiel.

For CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION: Rob Bonta, Norma N. Franklin, Thomas P. Kinzinger.

RULING

This is a motion filed on March 20, 2025, by Petitioner Diana Sandoval, trustee of the Sandoval Quiel Revocable Living Trust, for an order compelling Respondents County of Santa Barbara, Department of Planning & Development, County of Santa Barbara Board of Building Appeals, and/or California Coastal Commission to produce the agencies’ CEQA administrative records, for the setting of a CEQA settlement hearing, and to provide a list of responsible agencies under Public Resources Code sections 21167.8, and 21167.6.5.

On May 28, 2025, the Court sustained the demurrers of the California Coastal Commission, County of Santa Barbara, Department of Planning & Development, and County of Santa Barbara Board of Building Appeals without leave to amend as to the first and second causes of action of plaintiff’s second amended petition and complaint (SAP). The first and second causes of action are petitions for writs of traditional and administrative mandate including the claims under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.). (SAP, ¶¶ 68-80, 99-138.) Insofar as this motion seeks to compel these parties to produce an administrative record to proceed with the CEQA claims, this motion is moot.