In November 2024, Chatten-Brown Law Group submitted written comments to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) on behalf of Neighbors for a Better California regarding a highly controversial proposed mixed-use development in Pacific Beach. The content of several of these comments were echoed in HCD’s own letter regarding its interpretation of State Density Bonus Law, published a month later.​

On behalf of Uptown community members, Chatten-Brown Law Group submitted written comments to the City of San Diego regarding a proposed medical office along the rim of Maple Canyon, which would have involved the excavation of steep hillsides in Maple Canyon to develop a six-story building and four-story underground parking complex. OB Rag covers CBLG’s comments and the proposed Project, reporting that the property owner opted to list the property for sale rather than proceed with the project.

​CBLG and Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate on behalf of Pixley Residents for Environmental Justice, a community organization formed by Pixley residents, challenging the County of Tulare’s approval of a 28-acre industrial hydrogen project in the community of Pixley without the required environmental review.

CBLG client Sierra Club and a coalition of environmental organizations celebrate the preservation of 1,300 acres of highly sensitive lands in Proctor Valley near Jamul, as a direct result of the legal settlement of a lawsuit brought by the coalition.
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As part of the settlement, the developer agreed to sell the land for conservation, ensuring the survival of a variety of endangered animal and plant species. Proctor Valley is vital to the survival of endangered species such as the California gnatcatcher, San Diego fairy shrimp, Otay tarplant, San Diego button celery, golden eagle, and Quino checkerspot butterfly, among others.​

​Fresnoland investigation shows Caltrans ignored key impacts of an expansion of Highway 99 in south central Fresno, and quotes managing partner Josh Chatten-Brown.
 
​“Caltrans’ knowledge of the industrial park prior to completing its environmental review puts the agency’s documents into serious legal doubt, said Josh Chatten-Brown, the managing partner at a southern California law firm who has litigated CEQA cases against Caltrans.”

​The Coast News Group provides a detailed overview of the Endangered Habitat League’s litigation that challenges the Encinitas City Council’s approval of the Piraeus Point Project, including concerns raised under the California Coastal Act.

On behalf of Endangered Habitats League, Chatten-Brown Law Group filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate challenging the City of Encinitas’ approval of the Piraeus Point Project.

The San Diego Union Tribune
CBLG client PQ-NE Action Group and Lennar Homes reached a settlement agreement over wildfire concerns regarding the 536-unit Junipers senior community development in Rancho Penasquitos.

Today, the San Diego Union-Tribune published ​an Op-ed by Lisa Ross, Peter Andersen, and Josh Chatten-Brown, arguing that environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is not an obstacle to housing projects that are planned properly and comply with state law.  As the authors explain, "Unfortunately, too many elected officials in California have swallowed the manufactured 'anti-affordable housing' CEQA sound bite and continue to support projects that violate both the letter and spirit of the law."