July 21, 2026
We wanted you to know about the lawsuits filed against Sacramento County since the disastrous vote by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on June 16, 2026, to approve the Upper Westside Project. And, we wanted to share some of the articles published in the local press.
Environmental Groups’ Lawsuit
ECOS, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk and the Garden Highway Community Association filed a lawsuit against the County last week, supported by other environmental groups, including Bird Alliance and 350 Sacramento. This lawsuit focuses primarily on requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act which requires public agencies in California to consider the environmental consequences of their actions before proceeding with projects in order to prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage. Patrick Soluri, environmental attorney for Soluri Meserve, filed the suit in Sacramento Superior Court.
To learn more about the details of the lawsuit, read the Onsite Observer article below.
City of Sacramento Lawsuit
This lawsuit is primarily focused on the destructive impacts of the project to the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (NBHCP) and costs of the project to the City. The City argues that the County ignored City requests to abide by the NBHCP as well as City notifications that the project conflicts with the NBHCP. The NBHCP, signed in 2003 by the city, county, and state/federal wildlife agencies, includes a legally binding commitment to preserve a mile wide wildlife corridor along the Sacramento River and to balance future development with habitat conservation in the Natomas Basin. The City Attorney filed the lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court.
Several of the news articles below highlight how unusual it is for the City to sue the County and describe that lawsuit.
Make a Donation
Lawsuits have become an unfortunate last resort to getting elected officials to pay attention to the concerns of the public. The County Supervisors ignored their constituents. They ignored a petition of over 450 signatures, 150 hard copy letters, hundreds of comments on the EIR, PREIR or FEIR and numerous speakers at the (one, only) hearing on this huge project. To force the County to address our concerns, we have no choice but to present our case to a Sacramento Superior County Judge. Thank you for your support so far, and, please, could you give us $25? Or $250? Whatever your donation is, it will go towards our legal fees. Donate here. Thank you.
Local Press
TODAY:
Natomas planning is funded by Phil Serna’s developer friends. Time to rethink | Opinion
The Sacramento Bee
July 21, a Bee article highlights the close relationship between the County and developers. It also looks to the past when there was a clear separation between the County and City on development responsibilities (City) and ag land (County).
Click here to read the article.
LAST WEEK:
The following articles were published on July 16 and 17, 2026. We were very heartened by the press response to both our lawsuit and the City’s. We hope this signals the end of the era of rubber-stamping projects for developers in Sacramento.
Environmental groups sue Sacramento County over 9,356-home Upper Westside approval
Onsite Observer
Environmental and neighborhood groups sued Sacramento County on Thursday over its approval of a 9,356-home community west of North Natomas, opening a legal fight over whether the region’s housing needs justify expanding urban development onto farmland in the Natomas Basin.
Provides an excellent summary of the lawsuit.
Click here to read the article.
Sacramento’s lawsuit against county ends rubber-stamp era for developers | Opinion
The Sacramento Bee
The rubber stamp era for big developments in Sacramento County is over. There is a new sheriff in town. The city of Sacramento, in a stunning repudiation of Sacramento County, is legally challenging the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous decision in June to approve a new 25,000-resident community in Natomas known as Upper Westside.
Click here to read the article.
City of Sacramento sues county over controversial Natomas housing project
The Sacramento Bee
In a rare move, the city of Sacramento has filed a lawsuit against Sacramento County challenging its approval of Upper Westside, a controversial housing project that could add 25,000 residents to the Natomas basin.
Click here to read the article.
City of Sacramento files own suit against Sac County over Upper Westside Plan approvals
Sacramento Business Journal
The city of Sacramento has filed its own lawsuit against Sacramento County over county supervisors’ June approvals of the Upper Westside Specific Plan. Filed Thursday in Sacramento County Superior Court, the city’s lawsuit contends the county’s environmental review of the project gave short shrift to potential impacts on the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan and undeveloped areas bordering the city.
Click here to read the article. (article protected by a pay wall)
Supported by former Sacramento mayor, groups file suit over Upper Westside project
The Sacramento Bee
Three groups filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors’ approval of the Upper Westside project. The board voted 5-0 on June 16 to approve the project, which could add about 25,000 residents to a rural area along the Sacramento River in the Natomas basin west of the city of Sacramento.
Click here to read the article.
Environmental groups file suit challenging Upper Westside Plan approvals
Sacramento Business Journal
A group of environmental organizations filed a lawsuit opposing approvals for the Upper Westside Plan, the 9,300-home project proposed in unincorporated North Natomas. According to the announcement of the suit, groups such as the Environmental Council of Sacramento believe Sacramento County’s review of the project wasn’t adequate under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Click here to read the article. (article protected by a pay wall)
