Groups Opposing Casino on San Pablo Bay Wins Litigation Costs

A judge has awarded full litigation costs to two groups fighting a casino near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The award was granted to East Bay Regional Park District and Citizens for East Shore Parks, co-plaintiffs in a suit seeking environmental review of a planned casino resort at Point Molate in Richmond.

The award of litigation costs follows a Jan. 20 settlement between the community groups and defendants Upstream Point Molate LLC, a developer, and the city of Richmond.

Under the settlement, the city agreed to prepare an environmental impact report on the project before making any decisions about the use of the land.

Point Molate, a former Navy fuel depot, consists of 320 acres of land and 80 acres of tidelands along San Pablo Bay.

The Navy transferred the land to the city of Richmond in 2003. The following year, the Richmond City Council voted to sell the site to Emeryville-based Upstream.

Upstream, working with Harrah's Operating Co. Inc. and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, planned to build a Las Vegas-style casino complex that included four hotels, a convention center and shops.

Citizens for East Shore Parks sued Richmond and Upstream in December 2004, claiming that the city's decision to enter into an agreement before preparing an environmental impact report violated the California Environmental Quality Act.

June 25, 2006
Posted By Tom Jones
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