Developers Barred From Bulldozing Trees

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an environmental coalition’s request to continue barring Playa Vista developers from grading a willow grove along Centinela Creek, at least through Monday.

The decision late Thursday gave the environmentalists another day to file papers asking the appellate court to overturn a ruling earlier that day by U.S. District Judge Ronald S.M. Lew, who lifted a temporary restraining order that had halted the bulldozing. Lew held that there was no proof the grading would cause irreparable harm.

Playa Capital Co. has until Monday to respond to the environmentalists’ charges.

Wetlands Action Network, Ballona Wetlands Trust and California Public Interest Research Group contend that the work threatened several endangered species. Playa has said the grading was a necessary preparation for an anticipated rainy winter.