John Kevlin
Partner
PUBLICATIONS
- Statewide Ballot Initiative May Rewrite Rent Control Rules, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update November 2, 2017
- Supervisors Kim and Peskin Introduce BMR Grandfathering Legislation, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update March 18, 2016
- Oakland Development Impact Fee Details Released, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update January 8, 2016
- San Francisco’s Affordable Housing Increase Could be on the June Ballot; Child Care Fee Expanded, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update December 18, 2015
- Transportation Sustainability Fee Modified at Land Use Committee, Reuben, Junius & Rose, October 13, 2015
- New Details on Transportation Sustainability Fee Released, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update August 5, 2015
- Breaking: Central SoMA Plan Could Generate $2B in Public Benefits, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update June 25, 2015
- Planning Department Issues New Policy Papers for Central Soma: The Sausage-Making Begins…, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update November 25, 2014
LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Mr. Kevlin’s work is primarily focused on entitlement and permitting of development projects in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and the greater Bay Area. He has represented a number of property owners, businesses, market-rate and affordable housing developers and non-profits at Planning Commissions, City Councils, Boards of Supervisors, and other public agencies. Mr. Kevlin processes environmental review and entitlements for major residential (market rate and affordable), commercial, industrial and institutional developments.
Mr. Kevlin is involved in land use policy and the legislative process at the local and state levels. He regularly works with elected officials, city attorneys and policy organizations on project-specific legislation, as well as CEQA reform and state and local streamlining programs.
EXPERIENCE/ NOTABLE PROJECTS
Mr. Kevlin’s experience in San Francisco spans from rear decks in the Richmond to the Transamerica Pyramid and everything in between. He has recently worked on the redevelopment of the Transamerica Block, rezoning and entitlement of major sites in the Central SoMa area such as the Tennis Club, 4th/Harrison, 555 Bryant Street and 490 Brannan Street, and redevelopment of the United Irish Cultural Center. He has processed state streamlining law approvals for projects under SB 35/423, AB 2011/2243, AB 2162 and SB 684.
In the East Bay, Mr. Kevlin has worked on major BART station redevelopments at the MacArthur, Lake Merritt and North Berkeley stations. He has represented a number of recent downtown Oakland tower projects including 415 20th Street, 2200 Telegraph Avenue, 1431 Franklin Street and 585 17th Street. Further, he has guided the affordable housing project at 430 Broadway in Oakland towards approval of its three buildings based on state and local streamlining laws.
Mr. Kevlin also enjoys working on a diverse array of projects in the wider Bay Area, which have recently included a small housing project in Point Reyes Station (appearing before the California Coastal Commission), a townhome project in Tiburon (employing recently-enacted SB 684) and Walnut Creek (helping negotiate a major, multi-phase development agreement).
OTHER EXPERIENCE
During law school, John was active in the ABA’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, organizing panel discussions at law schools throughout the country. He also wrote for the school’s newspaper, Nota Bene. Prior to entering law school, Mr. Kevlin worked in Maine on political campaigns and at the State Legislature.
EDUCATION
- B.S., 2002 Ithaca College (computer science; cum laude)
- J.D., 2008 George Washington University (cum laude; Thurgood Marshall Scholar; student director of the Small Business Clinic)
- Extern, Honorable Judge James S. Starzynski, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Mexico
