California Justices Nix Coastal Commission’s Permit Denial (2)

A California state environmental regulator lacked the authority to appeal and deny a home developer’s permit, the state’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday, providing a check on the California Coastal Commission’s power.

The commission improperly exercised its jurisdiction when it denied a permit for single-family homes in Los Osos, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said in an opinion.

“We conclude that neither the county’s nor the commission’s interpretation is entitled to deference here,” Guerrero said, reversing a California Courts of Appeal decision. “Neither entity has demonstrated a clear interpretive advantage over the other, a significantly stronger showing of factors indicating ...