In Dual Decisions, California Courts Strike Down Unpopular San Diego County Sprawl Project
From Center for Biological Diversity / June 8, 2026
Two California courts have rejected a dangerous housing project proposed in the wildfire-prone hillsides of Santee. The latest rejection is the fifth time a court has ruled against Fanita Ranch since the risky development was first proposed in 1999.
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“It’s about time the city of Santee listens to its own residents. Poorly planned projects that increase wildfire risks can no longer be justified given our climate reality,” said John Buse, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The latest court opinions are a strong rebuke against cities and developers who try to skirt the state’s zoning and environmental laws. San Diego County deserves safe and sustainable development. I’m hopeful this finally puts an end to Fanita Ranch.”
In 2025 Santee approved the latest iteration of Fanita Ranch, which would include 3,000 homes in undeveloped open space that has already burned 65 times. The project site is home to Quino checkerspot butterflies, California gnatcatchers, Crotch’s bumblebees and other sensitive species. The city’s approval came despite a Santee ballot initiative requiring voter approval of projects like Fanita Ranch.
In July 2025 environmental groups including the Center, Preserve Wild Santee, Endangered Habitats League and California Chaparral Institute sued the city for violating the California Environmental Quality Act and the city’s general plan by increasing the density of the project without prior voter approval.
In separate decisions last week, the San Diego Superior Court and California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal agreed with the environmental groups and rejected the city’s scheme to avoid sending the Fanita Ranch project to its voters.
“The court rulings confirm that the will of the people as expressed through law still matters,” said Van Collinsworth, director of Preserve Wild Santee. “Santee residents are grateful and celebrating the judgments.”
The appeals court ruling said the city’s scheme “undermined the state’s system of land use regulation, and allowed the city to bypass the normal processes — required by state law — that exist to empower voters in legislative decision-making by the city with respect to land use decisions.”
“Once again, the city of Santee and the developer have been unsuccessful in circumventing the will of the voters,” said Dan Silver, executive director of the Endangered Habitats League. “It is time to save the land and avoid the unacceptable fire risks to residents.”
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.8 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
