California AG Announced Settlement to Address Wildfire Ignition Risks from Proposed Development

JANUARY 13, 2023

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement with the developers of a proposed luxury development project located in a “very high-risk fire hazard severity zone” following a ruling last year vacating the county’s approval of the project and finding that the project’s environmental review did not adequately consider the impact on wildfire evacuation routes for nearby communities. Under the settlement, in order for the project to proceed, it must meet certain requirements to lessen wildfire risk—including a higher-density layout, fewer dead-end roads, and the hiring of a wildfire expert. The project must also take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—such as installing solar panels and electric vehicle charging, as well as purchasing carbon offset credits annually.