Tulare Ordered to Void Zoning Update, Conduct Environmental Review

Court ruling protects overburdened community from industrial pollution

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A Tulare County Superior Court judge has ordered the City of Tulare to void a zoning ordinance update that allowed the city to approve certain light and heavy industrial uses without complying with state environmental law. The ruling comes after a year of litigation brought by the California Attorney General, a labor union, and the Matheny Tract Committee, a resident-led group advocating for fair land-use practices and environmental protections in their community.

Why it matters

The decision is seen as a victory for environmental justice, as the Matheny Tract community, which is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, has historically borne the brunt of pollution and health impacts from nearby industrial activity. The ruling requires the city to engage the public and conduct a full environmental review before approving any future zoning changes.

The details

The consolidated lawsuits challenged the city's zoning ordinance update, which allowed cold storage and other facilities to be permitted in light and heavy industrial zones near the Matheny Tract community without any environmental review. The city had claimed the update was exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), but the court ruled this was a violation of the law.

  • In January 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Laborers International Union of North America, Local Union 294 filed separate lawsuits against the City of Tulare.
  • In April 2025, the cases were consolidated into one.
  • In August 2025, the Matheny Tract Committee intervened as a plaintiff and petitioner in the cases.
  • On February 19, 2026, the Tulare County Superior Court judge ordered the City of Tulare to void the zoning ordinance update.

The players

Rob Bonta

California's Attorney General who filed a lawsuit against the City of Tulare for violating CEQA.

Laborers International Union of North America, Local Union 294

A labor union that filed a separate lawsuit against the City of Tulare for violating CEQA.

Matheny Tract Committee

A resident-led group that advocates for fair land-use practices, environmental protections, and meaningful community participation in decisions affecting their neighborhood.

Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability

A nonprofit organization that represented the Matheny Tract Committee in the consolidated lawsuits against the City of Tulare.

Marc Mondell

The City Manager of Tulare who expressed disappointment in the court ruling and said the city will discuss options and next steps with the City Council.

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What they’re saying

“We aren't against development. We're against projects that affect our health, with their traffic, their noise and above all for not taking into account the environmental impact.”

— Hugo Trujillo, Member of the Matheny Tract Committee (fresnobee.com)

“For too long, communities of color and low-income communities have borne the brunt of pollution, leaving them with devastating impacts to their health. We will continue to stand firm that environmental justice and economic opportunity go hand-in-hand. We will continue to uphold laws, such as CEQA as a cornerstone of both.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General (fresnobee.com)

“This decision means that the city will need to engage the public and conduct environmental review of its zoning ordinance update. This is a critical win for public health and the residents of Matheny Tract.”

— Seth Alston, Staff Attorney, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability (fresnobee.com)

What’s next

Because of the ruling, Tulare is required to rescind its approval of the zoning update and fully comply with the environmental review required by CEQA before any future approval actions.

The takeaway

This court decision is a significant victory for environmental justice, as it forces the City of Tulare to engage the community and conduct a thorough environmental review before approving any zoning changes that could further burden the predominantly Hispanic/Latino Matheny Tract neighborhood with industrial pollution and its associated health impacts.