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CRED filed CRED v. City of Saratoga (26CV503751) over Masson Estates. Read CRED’s note.

The note
Oak-dotted golden hills typical of the Santa Cruz mountain foothills

Saratoga · 501(c)(3)

Local voice for responsible, equitable development.

CRED tracks Builder’s Remedy applications, defends emergency access in our hillsides, and insists state housing laws be implemented without sacrificing public safety.

Latest updates

Masson Estates · litigation · September 18, 2026

CRED has gone to court over Masson Estates

On September 17 CRED filed a verified petition (Santa Clara Super. Ct. No. 26CV503751) challenging the City’s approval of Masson Estates on Pierce Road. The petition alleges that documented wildfire, evacuation, and emergency-access harms cannot be set aside. We ask neighbors to read the papers, stay on alerts, and support the Public Safety & Accountability Campaign. Gifts are unrestricted. CRED does not promise a judgment or a project reversal.

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$50,000

First-stage Public Safety & Accountability Campaign — unrestricted gifts; independent review cannot wait

Pierce

Over capacity in the city’s July 2025 evacuation route-capacity assessment (baseline modeled scenario). CRED analysis

5 hrs

Up to 5 hours in a modeled evacuation scenario. See the assessment and assumptions · Report PDF (opens in a new tab).

In court

CRED filed over Masson Estates on September 17. The note

Who we are

Housing is a responsibility. So is getting people out alive.

Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development is a volunteer public-benefit corporation. We work for the responsible implementation of SB 330, SB 9, SB 10, and related laws in Saratoga — through research, monitoring, administrative advocacy, and litigation when other paths fail.

On September 17 CRED filed a verified petition over Masson Estates (Case No. 26CV503751). The city’s August 19 vote and the evacuation assessments remain on the record. Other hillside files stay on the tracker.

Mission and board
Narrow two-lane road through oak foothills
  • Public safety

    CRED advocates for development decisions that fully account for evacuation, wildfire, flood, and emergency-access conditions in hillside neighborhoods.

  • Hillsides

    Oak canopy, wildlife, and water limits are not optional extras on a 72-acre map.

  • The record

    We cite the city file, the EIR, and the evacuation study — and we label CRED analysis as ours.

  • Lawful process

    The Masson petition is the public paper in court. Other hillside files stay on the tracker.

By neighborhood

Projects near you

Streets, not a map. Open a corridor, then the file. Confirm dates on the city agenda.

All 22 projects

Pierce Road & west hillsides

5 files · 5 on watch

One-way evacuation, oak woodland, Masson Estates and the county Mountain Winery file next door.

Open this corridor

Village / Oak Place

1 file · 1 on watch

Four units on Oak Place; Council appeal scheduled September 16 — confirm the agenda packet.

Open this corridor

Avenue, Allendale & others

8 files · 1 on watch

Valley-floor and withdrawn files, including Vineyard One.

Open this corridor

Notes

From the record

All notes