Save Tara v. City of West Hollywood

Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

—Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.),1 a public agency must prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) on any project the agency proposes to “carry out or approve” if that project may have significant environmental effects (§§ 21100, subd. (a), 21151, subd. (a)). We address in this case the question whether and under what circumstances an agency’s agreement allowing private development, conditioned on future compliance with CEQA, constitutes approval of the project within the meaning of sections 21100 and 21151. We…