Melinda Sarjapur
Partner
PUBLICATIONS
- AB 130 – A Seismic Shift For CEQA? Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update July 2, 2025
- Presenter, State Law Housing Webinar, June 2025
- CEB Environmental, Land Use and Natural Resources Practice Guide, “Recognizing Different Land Use Entitlements”, June 2024
- 2024 State Housing Legislation Preview, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update September 12, 2024
- State Law Could Overhaul “Builder’s Remedy”, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update April 24, 2024
- California Passes New Law to Spur Housing, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update September 20, 2023
- Summer SF Legislation Roundup, Reuben, Junius & Rose, Update August 9, 2023
LAND USE, ENVIRONMENTAL
Ms. Sarjapur is a partner in the firm’s Land Use group. She is an expert in local and state zoning laws and regulations, as well as California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) compliance.
Ms. Sarjapur regularly represents clients before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission; Board of Appeals; Historic Preservation Commission; Zoning Administrator; Recreation and Park Commission; and Building Inspection Commission; as well as a variety of governmental entities, boards, and commissions throughout the Bay Area.
She counsels clients on all facets of land use, zoning and environmental law, and has significant experience navigating entitlement and permitting process. She has assisted with a range of development types including large-scale residential; office; hotel; retail; laboratory; and institutional; in addition to advising and representing homeowners and developers in small building additions.
EDUCATION
- B.A., 2001, University of Arizona
- M.L.I.S, 2004, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
- JD, Highest Honors, 2012, Golden Gate University
- Extern, the Honorable Justice Patricia K. Sepulveda, California Court of Appeal, First District
EXPERIENCE/NOTABLE PROJECTS
- Residential and mixed-use developments throughout the Bay Area, applying local and state law programs for streamlining entitlement process and maximizing density including state density bonus law; AB 2011/2243; SB 35/; SB 684/1123; SB 4; SB 6; and AB 2162.
- A 237-unit, 100% affordable supportive housing project in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood.
- An 11-story, 364-unit mixed-use residential project in San Francisco’s Mission District.
- A 29-story, 211-key hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District.
- Institutional remodel, expansion, and rezoning projects in San Francisco’s Downtown/Civic Center, South of Market, and Lakeshore neighborhoods.
- Laboratory projects in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill and Mission neighborhoods.
- Key residential, office, and hotel projects in San Francisco’s Central SoMa Plan area.
- Land use diligence and strategic planning consultation for a range of proposed office; commercial; hotel; and residential development throughout the Bay Area.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
-Member, State Bar of California
-Member, Urban Land Institute
