Dublin's Open Space Victory: Judge Hands Down Win for Environmental Activists
In a recent decision, an Alameda County Superior Court judge has solidified a win for environmental activists who sued the city of Dublin over a ballot measure that could have paved the way for commercial development in protected open space. The ruling comes after over 53% of Dublin voters approved Measure II in November 2024, which would have allowed the city to decide on potential development in the Doolan and Collier canyons.
The city's attorneys had argued that an environmental review was not necessary, citing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a barrier. However, Judge Michael Markman rejected this argument, stating that the city's actions "indisputably did not change the existing physical conditions of the environment and...did not change the 'planned future conditions' discussed in any plan."
Markman's decision effectively puts Measure II back on track, requiring the city to conduct a further environmental study before making any decisions about development. Environmental activists, including those from Save Mount Diablo and Friends of Livermore, have been vocal in their opposition to the measure, arguing that it would compromise the protection of 3,282 acres of open space.
The ruling is seen as a major victory for the environmental community, with one activist describing it as "huge holiday cheer." The decision also sends a message that city officials and lawmakers cannot simply skirt environmental regulations without facing consequences. As Seth Adams, director of Save Mount Diablo, noted, "You've got to stand up to bullies...Dublin has been a bully in this situation."
The ruling comes after over a year and a half of litigation, and while the city may choose to appeal the decision, it is likely that any appeal would be lengthy and costly. As Adams pointed out, the decision was "very quick, as far as courts are concerned," given the complexity of the case.
Ultimately, the ruling restores balance between urban development and environmental protection, ensuring that Dublin's open spaces remain a vital part of the city's character and identity.
In a recent decision, an Alameda County Superior Court judge has solidified a win for environmental activists who sued the city of Dublin over a ballot measure that could have paved the way for commercial development in protected open space. The ruling comes after over 53% of Dublin voters approved Measure II in November 2024, which would have allowed the city to decide on potential development in the Doolan and Collier canyons.
The city's attorneys had argued that an environmental review was not necessary, citing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a barrier. However, Judge Michael Markman rejected this argument, stating that the city's actions "indisputably did not change the existing physical conditions of the environment and...did not change the 'planned future conditions' discussed in any plan."
Markman's decision effectively puts Measure II back on track, requiring the city to conduct a further environmental study before making any decisions about development. Environmental activists, including those from Save Mount Diablo and Friends of Livermore, have been vocal in their opposition to the measure, arguing that it would compromise the protection of 3,282 acres of open space.
The ruling is seen as a major victory for the environmental community, with one activist describing it as "huge holiday cheer." The decision also sends a message that city officials and lawmakers cannot simply skirt environmental regulations without facing consequences. As Seth Adams, director of Save Mount Diablo, noted, "You've got to stand up to bullies...Dublin has been a bully in this situation."
The ruling comes after over a year and a half of litigation, and while the city may choose to appeal the decision, it is likely that any appeal would be lengthy and costly. As Adams pointed out, the decision was "very quick, as far as courts are concerned," given the complexity of the case.
Ultimately, the ruling restores balance between urban development and environmental protection, ensuring that Dublin's open spaces remain a vital part of the city's character and identity.
cant believe dat just one person stood up 2 da bullies & won da case 4 them!!! city officials think dey can just waltz in an destroy all da natural beauty but nope, judge markman is like da ultimate hero 
), its bout makin sure dat our cities are still livable 4 generations 2 come 
dubbins open spaces r a precious resource & we gotta protect dem at all costs 
so lets keep celebratin dis win & hope it inspires other cities 2 take note 
! It's about time someone stood up to those bullies in Dublin 
. I mean, who doesn't love spending time outdoors and enjoying nature? It's not like they're hurting anyone by preserving 3,282 acres of open space 
This ruling is a total win for environmental activists and I'm so here for it 
... like, what if the city just decides to appeal and then they'll be all, "oh no we can't do it"? 
And what's with the whole bullies thing? Was Dublin really being that aggressive? 
It's like, how do we balance that out?
I'm just not sure if the city is gonna appeal or what... 
it's like, finally some justice for all the activists who have been fighting to protect dublin's open space from being destroyed by commercial development. i mean, can you even imagine if they had gone through with that plan? our parks and trails would be nothing but concrete and buildings!!! thank god someone is holding them accountable.
and remember to always look out for our planet! 
. I mean, 3,282 acres of open space is no joke 
! It's crazy to think that the city was trying to roll over the activists like they were nothing 
. And I gotta say, the activist from Save Mount Diablo is totally right on point 
. You've got to stand up to bullies, especially when it comes to protecting our planet 
. It's so important to have places like that in our cities where we can connect with nature and feel like we're part of something bigger than ourselves 
. Let's keep fighting for those open spaces and preserve them for future generations 
, i mean dont get me wrong ppl have a right to their space but come on 3,282 acres its not like they're savin the planet from certain doom or somethin lol 
. i'm so glad there are people like save mount diablo fighting for our planet 
. this ruling is huge and shows that we can't just let city officials do whatever they want without consequences 
. now we can rest easy knowing our open spaces are safe 
. thanks for all the hard work, activists! 
but environmental activists were all like "nope" and now they have to do an extra study 
can't let city officials be bullies and ignore environmental laws 
anyway, i guess it's good that they're putting in more effort to protect their open space because, priorities 
this is so awesome! i'm loving how the judge stood up to dublin city officials and made them do the right thing for the environment 
. it's crazy how much impact one person can have, especially in a court of law 
. i'm not surprised though, activist Seth Adams said some super powerful stuff about standing up to bullies 
. this ruling is giving me holiday cheer too 
! But seriously, I'm glad environmental activists were able to "paws" down the city's plans and protect those beautiful canyons. It's a big win for nature lovers everywhere, and who knows, maybe this ruling will be the start of a whole movement to keep our parks and spaces wild 
. It's also super interesting how the court said the city couldn't just change the environment without doing an environmental review 
.
, showing that most people care about preserving those beautiful canyons 
? Losing those would be a huge loss for biodiversity 
. The ruling puts environmental protection back on track, which is awesome 
. I mean, come on, 3,282 acres of open space? That's not just about protection for the environment, it's also about preserving the city's character and identity. And let's be real, who wants to live in a city that looks like it's been ravaged by urban development? 
!