In 2019, the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District challenged the City of Riverbank’s approval of a project that would have placed 2,802 new homes and retail development in a remote, rural area without adequate fire protection. Despite the size of the project, the City had failed to adequately analyze the development’s exacerbation of fire hazard risks in the City or its impact on fire protection services. It took a CEQA lawsuit to force the City to address these risks.
Thanks to CEQA, the fire district and the City reached a settlement under which the fire district will receive the funding required to provide the necessary fire protection services.