ELK GROVE, Calif. — The city of Elk Grove is seeking a way out of a lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta when he accused city officials of breaking state housing laws last year.
Nearby residents railed against the proposed Oak Rose Apartments development, then city officials announced they denied the project because it didn't meet zoning standards.
Bonta said Elk Grove city officials violated Senate Bill 35, among additional housing accountability laws, when they stopped developers from building supportive housing in the Old Town neighborhood.
Attorneys representing the city of Elk Grove maintain in their most recent filing last week the Oak Rose Apartments project didn't meet the city's standards and wasn't entitled to streamlined processing under Senate Bill 35.
They also said the lawsuit is now moot since city officials settled with the Oak Rose Apartments developers.
The California Attorney General's Office told ABC10 this week they still believe the city of Elk Grove violated the law when it denied the Oak Rose Apartment project.
"And we continue to believe that the law requires accountability," said an AG's office spokesperson.
The next court hearing on the lawsuit is set for July 2, where the AG's office has a chance to formally respond.
