Background
Susan counsels in environmental law, land use and real estate, representing both public and private sector clients. In addition to her broad real estate practice, which includes residential and commercial purchase and sale transactions and easement disputes, she has a particular emphasis on state and federal permitting, inside and outside the California Coastal Zone, and agricultural law, including vineyards and wineries, cannabis, the agricultural preserve program, conservation and rangeland easements, agricultural leasing, and agricultural land purchases.
Susan has a wide range of experience, having represented public agencies and private landowners in environmental and real estate matters throughout her career. She understands the importance of balancing economics, deadlines and client objectives with the rigors of regulatory programs and thorough due diligence. In addition to an in-depth knowledge of real estate and of federal and state environmental laws, she brings leadership, team experience, hard work, a creative strategic approach and the negotiating tactics necessary for the successful completion of real estate, environmental, land use and water-related projects.
Susan’s experience includes extensive work on the Coastal Branch, Phase II, of the California State Water Project. She coordinated with the Central Coast Water Authority on project design and siting for the pipelines, the water treatment plant, storage tanks, pump stations and related facilities to avoid and mitigate environmental impacts. She supervised consultants writing environmental impact reports and negotiated with the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish Game on all agreements necessary to construct, operate, repair and maintain the project facilities.
Susan has provided various legal and strategic services for Habitat Conservation Plans and Natural Community Conservation Plans, for the State Water Project Monterey Amendment, for the City of San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Project, for the Lopez Dam Remediation, for the Salinas Reservoir Enlargement and for the Castaic Lake Water Agency. Susan currently serves on the County of Santa Barbara Regional Conservation Strategy Committee, preparing a plan balancing protection of threatened and endangered species with project permitting countywide.
Representative Matters
- Represented equestrians in a CEQA petition against the County of Santa Barbara regarding the County decision during the COVID-19 lockdown, with no environmental review and no public input, to open to hikers/trail runners and bicyclists a trail that had been reserved solely for equestrian use for decades. The County adopted a Notice of Exemption then quickly opened the trail to virtually all comers, disregarding the potential impacts on wildlife habitat and cultural resources. The petitioners pointed out that a 10-year old Environmental Impact Statement/Resource Management Plan and several other older studies called for site-specific environmental analysis before expanding or increasing the uses of any of the Lake Cachuma trails. Brownstein argued that County failed to conduct sufficient environmental review for the proposed changes to the trail use, including potential impacts to nesting eagles and a host of other sensitive species, and failed to adequately support the public’s rights to participate in any changes of this trail’s use. The Court agreed and found in the petitioners’ favor, further finding that the County failed to properly post the Notice of Exemption. The Court also noted the County’s “aggressive and uncompromising” litigation strategy and awarded $300,000 in attorneys’ fees. Brownstein’s team delivered a major victory to our client in preserving existing trail access requirements and sensitive environmental and cultural resources.
- Provide assistance to land use consultant preparing CEQA documentation and processing permits for remediation of oceanfront site in Santa Barbara County, and negotiating and drafting option agreement with non-profit for purchase of site upon completion of remediation. Assisting client in obtaining adequate water supplies for land farming, dust control, and revegetation of impacted site with natives plants and in obtaining permits for relocation of major creek. Permitting included Federal, State, and County agencies. Remediation groundbreaking is imminent.
Insights & Publications
Insights & Publications
News
News
Credentials
Education
- J.D., 1975, UC Hastings College of Law
- B.A., 1969, University of California at Santa Barbara
Admissions
- California, 1975
Community Involvement
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association Land Use Committee
Board of Directors, Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance
