The Whittier Conservancy has sued the city of Whittier, challenging the City Council’s approval of a proposed four-story, 52-unit apartment complex in uptown Whittier, alleging an inadequate environmental review.

To approve the Comstock development project at the southwest corner of Philadelphia Street and Comstock Avenue proposed by MW Investment Group of Laguna Beach, the council authorized changes, in particular the easing of parking standards, in the 14-year-old Uptown Specific Plan.

These plan amendments make changes to design and development standards, allowable uses and parking regulations throughout the uptown area, said Amy Minteer, the conservancy’s attorney, in the written petition filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

But the city didn’t do the required environmental review, Minteer said.

The project was approved based upon a mitigated negative declaration