LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Justin A. Zucker is a member of the firm’s land use group. Justin’s practice specializes in land use and environmental law, assisting property owners and developers in all stages of the land use and entitlement process.
Before joining Reuben, Junius, & Rose, LLP, Mr. Zucker was Senior Counsel at Gordon & Rees Skully Mansukhani handling litigation defense, giving him broad depth and perspective into the transactional and entitlement hazards that lead to lawsuits and the importance of addressing all potential issues at the outset. In addition, Mr. Zucker interned for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, providing him with a wide-ranging administrative law and regulatory compliance foundation.
Justin has expertise in California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) compliance, planning and zoning laws, including the State Density Bonus Law, Housing Accountability Act, SB35, SB330, Housing Element Law and Subdivision Map Act, affordable housing laws, water rights, and code enforcement. His land use and entitlement experience include commercial, mixed-use, industrial, and residential projects as well as historic renovation and conversion projects.
When not at home raising his two young kids with his wife, Justin is actively engaged in the community. He is on the Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section of both the California Lawyer’s Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. He is also Chair of the Piedmont Planning Commission, Board Member of the Housing Action Coalition, and Co-Chairs the Urban Land Institute San Francisco NEXT Committee and Gala Committee.
EDUCATION
- B.S., 2006, University of Wisconsin – Madison
- J.D., 2011, Cleveland State University – Marshall College of Law (Founding Member and Publications Editor, Global Business Law Review)
- M.A. Environmental Studies, 2011, Cleveland State University – Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Planning Commissioner (Chair 2024-present), City of Piedmont (2021-present)
- Board Member, Housing Action Coalition (2023-present)
- Regulatory Committee Member, Housing Action Coalition (2019-present)
- Executive Committee Member, California Lawyers Association Environmental Law Section (2023-present)
- Legislative Committee Member (Co-Chair 2024-present), California Lawyers Association Environmental Law Section (2020-present)
- Executive Committee Member (Chair 2017), Bar Association of San Francisco Environmental Law Section (2012-present)
- Residential Local Product Council Member, Urban Land Institute San Francisco (2023-present)
- NEXT Committee (Co-Chair 2024),Urban Land Institute San Francisco (2018-present)
- Gala Committee Co-Chair, Urban Land Institute San Francisco (2021-present)
- Housing Committee Member, Bay Area Council (2020-present)
- Presidio Bay Foundation Scholars Program (2023-present)
EXPERIENCE AND NOTABLE PROJECTS
Justin has significant experience working with planning and economic development officials in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and Davis, with recent projects including:
- 222-unit transit oriented development next to West Oakland BART (surviving CEQA appeal);
- 41-unit adaptive reuse of landmark building in San Francisco Lower Haight Neighborhood;
- 31-story, 380-unit residential tower in San Francisco South of Market Neighborhood;
- 34-story, 274 unit residential tower in San Francisco South of Market Neighborhood;
- 289-unit transit oriented development next to West Oakland BART;
- 227-unit mixed-use building in Downtown Davis;
- 126-unit mixed-use building in Berkeley;
- Reimagination of the Castro Theatre, including alcoholic beverage sales; and
- Grocery stores including Trader Joe’s, Safeway, Mollie Stone’s, and Grocery Outlet.
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Contributor, Continuing Education of the Bar, Land Use Due Diligence & Entitlements Practitioner (June 28, 2024)
- Moderator, “Ethics and Environmental Law 2024” (San Francisco Bar Association, January 30, 2024)
- A Time to Build? How Housing Element Law Reform and the Builder’s Remedy are Impacting Housing Production in California, California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law News Volume 32, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2023
- 2023 Housing Legislation Round-Up, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update October 18, 2023
- 2023 California Legislation – Summer Recess Update, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update August 15, 2023
- Panelist, “Environmental Legislative Update: A 2022 Recap and 2023 Outlook” (San Francisco Bar Association, August 1, 2023)
- 2023 Legislation at a Glance – Part 2, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update April 12, 2023
- 2023 Legislation at a Glance – Part 1, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update April 5, 2023
- Moderator, “Ethics and Environmental Law 2023” (San Francisco Bar Association, January 10, 2023)
- 2022 Housing Legislation Round-Up, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update October 6, 2022
- Moderator, “Maximizing State Housing Production Laws and Best Practices (San Francisco Bar Association, September 27, 2022)
- Downtown Oakland Specific Plan: ZIP Update, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update September 21, 2022
- Oakland: Housing Approved & Zoning Updates, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update July 20, 2021
- Draft Zoning Amendments Released for Downtown Oakland, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update May 12, 2022
- Oakland ADU Updates: Legalization Amnesty Program, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update January 12, 2022
- Moderator, Ethics and Environmental Law 2022 (San Francisco Bar Association, January 11, 2022)
- Legislation Seeks Water Conservation in New Buildings, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update August 19, 2021
- Accessory Dwelling Units – Oakland Update, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update April 21, 2021
- Housing Production Legislation to Watch, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update December 16, 2020
- Oakland Entitlement Extensions, Is California Next?, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update August 12, 2020
- Moderator, “Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Planning, Preparation, and Predictions (San Francisco Bar Association, March 5, 2020)
- SB 50 Revamp: The More HOMES Act Amended, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update January 9, 2020
- Jobs Housing Linkage Fee on Offices Could Increase, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update September 17, 2019
- Draft Downtown Oakland Specific Plan to be Released this Summer, Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Update April 23, 2019
- Moderator, “Environmental Legislation in California: Trends, Directions, and Developments” (San Francisco Bar Association, February 14, 2017)
- Moderator, “The Clean Power Plan: Tackling climate change through GHG reductions at existing fossil fuel-fired power plants” (San Francisco Bar Association, March 3, 2016)
- Moderator, “Environmental Legislation in California: Trends, Directions, and Developments” (San Francisco Bar Association, March 3, 2015)
- Moderator, “The Impact of Greenhouse Gas Restrictions on the California Economy: A Long-Term Prognosis of Costs and Benefits” (San Francisco Bar Association, August 21, 2014)
- Moderator, “Environmental Legislation in California: Trends, Directions, and Developments” (San Francisco Bar Association, March 31, 2014)
