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Environmental & Energy

May 19, 2026

Shear folly or just another day in court?

Shear Development Co. LLC v. California Coastal Commission initially looked like a major shift in Coastal Act law, but it ultimately just applies settled standards of judicial review.

Douglas P. Carstens

Managing Partner
Carstens Black & Minteer LLP

Environmental, land use, municipal and natural resources law

Email: dpc@cbcearthlaw.com

UCLA SOL; Los Angeles CA

Carstens is board president of the Planning and Conservation League and managing partner of Carstens Black & Minteer LLP. His law firm specializes in environmental, land use, municipal and natural resources law.

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<i>Shear</i> folly or just another day in court?
Shutterstock

At first blush, the result in Shear Development Co. LLC v. California Coastal Commission (April 23, 2026) --- P.3d ---- 2026 WL 1102317, appears to be a far-reaching shift in Coastal Act jurisprudence.

Some perspective about it was provided by the Daily Journal on April 27 ("State high court limits Coastal Commission's authority") and May ...

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