"First, plaintiffs' argument that compliance with an illegal agency decision is per se irreparable harm is unsupported by the case they cite for that proposition," Friedman ruled.

"Even if plaintiffs were correct, the court has concluded that plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of success on their claims that the challenged agency actions were illegal, thus undercutting any argument that they have been irreparably harmed on this basis."

The judge also put the onus on the county in its claim that the administrative rulings and subsequent legal action could cause substantial damages to the eventual final plan to redevelop the abandoned air base.

"Finally, while there may be some possibility that bidders would be dissuaded from helping the county develop a mixed-use plan during the pendency of the lawsuit, this is a highly speculative possibility," Friedman ruled.

"In fact, there may well be ample numbers of developers willing to get involved despite the lawsuit. Furthermore, to the extent that the litigation has created uncertainty, the county itself has helped create that uncertainty by initiating the litigation."