Masson Estates · Pierce Road
CRED has gone to court over Masson Estates.
On August 19, 2026, the City Council granted the applicant’s appeal 5–0. On September 17, 2026, CRED filed a verified petition in Santa Clara Superior Court, Case No. 26CV503751.
Santa Clara Superior Court
Citizens for Responsible and Equitable Development v. City of Saratoga, et al.
Case No. 26CV503751 · electronically filed September 17, 2026
Verified petition for writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief (CEQA-based). Respondents: City of Saratoga and Saratoga City Council. Real parties in interest: Chateau Masson, LLC and William Frank Hirschman. The petition alleges; it is not a court finding. CRED does not promise a result.
Press contact: Sabrina Venskus, venskus@lawsv.com. The press release is a CRED statement, not a court filing.
Related news coverage
National and Bay Area reporting on the lawsuit is collected separately from this court record. A news story is not a ruling. CRED in the News
Why CRED remains concerned
Approval does not erase the impacts documented in the city’s environmental record. CRED’s focus is whether emergency access, evacuation, wildfire safety, environmental mitigation, and public accountability are adequately protected as the project proceeds. We support responsible housing and meaningful affordability; we insist that documented wildfire, evacuation, and emergency-access impacts be addressed.
- 25
- proposed homes, including five lower-income homes
- 72.45
- acre hillside site; about 18 acres developed, 54 undeveloped except a 20-ft EVA road
- 367
- trees proposed for removal
The city’s EIR identified significant and unavoidable impacts involving emergency response, evacuation, wildland fire, and emergency access. Numbers are from city materials. Official vote record: August 19 Council minutes and meeting video. The city project page may lag that vote.
Key dates
- Jul 20, 2023SB 330 preliminary application filed
- 2024–2026Environmental review, including Final EIR published June 17, 2026
- Jul 8, 2026Planning Commission denied the project 5–0 (emergency access, response, evacuation)
- Aug 19, 2026City Council granted the applicant’s appeal 5–0 (minutes and video of item APCC26-0003)
- Sep 17, 2026CRED filed a verified petition in Santa Clara Superior Court, Case No. 26CV503751
City packets last checked September 18, 2026.
Key documents
Essential sources only. Packets live on the city site; CRED does not re-host applicant files.
- Verified petition (26CV503751)
The lawsuit. Electronically filed September 17, 2026, Santa Clara Superior Court
- CRED press release, September 18, 2026
CRED statement for press. Not a court filing
- City project page
Status, plans, and staff documents
- Final EIR (Volume II)
Certified environmental record, including significant and unavoidable emergency / fire impacts
- Draft EIR (Volume I)
Public-review draft
- Updated wildfire appendix
Wildfire supporting information
- Updated transportation study
VMT and access analysis
- August 19 Council minutes
Official record of the Council action and vote
- August 19 Council meeting video
Recording of the hearing and vote (about 5 hours)
- August 19 Council agenda
Item APCC26-0003 and supporting materials
- Planning Commission July 8, 2026
Denial hearing materials
- Notice of Preparation
CEQA scoping notice
What CRED is doing
- The verified petition is the public paper in Case No. 26CV503751
- Preserving and explaining the public record of the August 19 vote
- Tracking other hillside files on the project tracker — this case is Masson / the City
Other hillside files are still moving, including Quito Road, Oak Place, and the county Mountain Winery / Encore Estates file next door on Pierce Road.
Urgent first-stage goal
Public Safety & Accountability Campaign
$50,000
CRED has gone to court over Masson Estates. Independent review of the record and the case cannot wait.
Your gift supports CRED’s charitable mission. CRED has filed CRED v. City of Saratoga, et al. (Santa Clara Super. Ct. No. 26CV503751). Gifts remain unrestricted, and the board may direct them wherever they will best advance CRED’s charitable purposes. CRED does not promise a judgment, a project reversal, or any other result.
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Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development
20665 4th Street, Suite 201, Saratoga, CA 95070
Memo: CRED
Donation disclosure: Citizens for Responsible & Equitable Development, 20665 4th Street, Suite 201, Saratoga, CA 95070, is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under IRC §501(c)(3), EIN 33-2882295. Donations support CRED’s charitable mission, including public education, public-records work, expert review, mapping, translation, community outreach, and related legal evaluation. Gifts are unrestricted and may be used wherever the board determines they will best advance CRED’s charitable purposes. No goods or services are provided in exchange; accordingly, 100% of the gift is intended to be deductible as a charitable contribution, subject to applicable law and the donor’s circumstances. Information about CRED’s revenues and expenses is available upon request at the address above or saratogacred@gmail.com. California charity information is available at oag.ca.gov/charities; registration does not imply endorsement.