SERVICES

Since 1996, Mr. Doporto has represented and advised public agencies and private clients on land use, zoning and real property development matters and related transactions.  He has extensive experience with the panoply of laws and regulations governing public land use planning and zoning and property development in California, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Planning & Zoning Laws, the Subdivision Map Act, the Permit Streamlining Act, the Mitigation Fee Act, the Mello-Roos Act, and the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act.  For both public and private clients, he has successfully guided numerous complex land use planning and development projects to successful completion.

Public Agency Services

For his public clients, Mr. Doporto  has assisted in the preparation and adoption of general plans, specific plans and community plans and plan amendments; amendments to zoning and subdivision ordinances; the preparation and adoption of mitigation and development impact fee ordinances; and adoptions of and amendments to other development-related municipal code ordinances. Read More »

Private Client Services

On behalf of his private clients, Mr. Doporto brings a cooperative, results-oriented approach to managing relationships with public agencies and guiding clients through entitlement and permit processes to obtain timely and legally-defensible permits and approvals. Read More »

About
Mr. Doporto

Mr. Doporto was born and raised in the East Bay.  He graduated from Dublin High School in 1974, and between 1972 and 1986, he worked in and managed several restaurants in the East Bay.  In 1985, he enrolled in college and in 1989 he received his B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley.  He earned his J.D. degree from the U.C. Berkeley School of Law in 1993.

In 1996, Mr. Doporto was a co-founder of the Contra Costa Bar Association’s Pro Bono Section.

His professional publications and presentations include the following:

  • What Local Governments Should Know About Incentives and Concessions Under the Density Bonus Statute (Government Code Section 65915), Presentation to the Contra Costa County City Attorneys Association, January 2011
  • SB 221:  Panacea or Pandora’s Box?, Environmental Law News, Winter 2003 (co-authored with R. Clark Morrison)
  • Where Does Final Approval Authority Lie for New Development in California?–The Long and Winding Road to SB 221 and SB 610, California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, November 2001 (co-authored with R. Clark Morrison)
  • Sometimes the Twain Shall Meet:  Conservation and Development in the Natomas Basin, California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, July 2001 (co-authored with R. Clark Morrison)
  • A Judicial Variation of the Chicken and Egg Problem:  Which Comes First, the People or the Water?, California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, February 2000 (co-authored with R. Clark Morrison)

Current & Former Clients

PUBLIC CLIENTS

City of Antioch

City of Brentwood

City of Hercules

City of Milpitas

City of Napa

City of Oakley

City of Palo Alto

City of Petaluma

City of Redwood City

San Joaquin Delta Community College District

San Mateo / Foster City Joint Powers Financing Authority

City of San Pablo

City of Soledad

Port of Stockton

City of Tracy

University of California

PRIVATE CLIENTS

Diablo Commercial Properties

D.R. Horton, Inc.

Equus Group/Slatten Ranch Partners

Feletto Development Company

Kamilos Companies, LLC

John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

Lennar Communities

Lennar Mare Island

Mountain House Investors, Inc.

Paramount Homes

Reynen & Bardis Homes

Sierra Pacific Industries

Souza Elk Grove, LLC

Toll Bros.

Wackman Ranch, LLC

Windemere BLC Land Co.

William Lyon Homes

CASE STUDIES

Alexander Valley Resort Project

Representing owner of approximately 254 acres in Cloverdale in entitlement and permitting process for 150-unit luxury hotel and spa, 15 acres of resort-compatible commercial and retail center, and adjacent luxury home community with up to 130 single-family, estate residential homes, and an open space preserve area.

Monterey Bay Science Education & Technology Center/University of California

Advised the University’s Office of the President regarding implementation of its Monterey Bay Science, Education & Technology (“MBEST”) Center Master Plan, located on the former Ford Ord Military Reservation in Monterey County.

John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System

Brentwood Medical Center (City of Brentwood).  Represented health care provider in successfully preparing and processing applications for a General Plan amendment, rezoning, and amendment to development agreement for approximately 900,000 square foot mixed use medical center project.  Services provided included drafting an amendment to an existing development agreement; negotiating and drafting amendments to General Plan and zoning ordinance to ensure consistency with development agreement; and working with City staff to prepare legally defensible approval documents including staff report, approval resolution and supporting findings.

Tracy Hills Mixed-Use Project/City of Tracy

Served as special counsel to the City on land use and CEQA matters for entitlement of 3000+ acre mixed-use development, including up to 5,000 residential units and more than 1,000,000 square feet of non-residential uses. Currently advising City on processing and implementation of the approved development.

Kaiser Permanente Deer Valley (FUA 1) Medical Center (Antioch).

Successfully guided health care provider through entitlement process for a 340,000 square foot hospital building, a 230,000 square foot medical office building, and a 30,000 square foot central utility plant.

Redwood City 2010 General Plan Update and 2011 Downtown Precise Plan

Served as special counsel to the City on land use and CEQA issues for the preparation and adoption of the City’s 2010 General Plan Update and its 2011 Downtown Precise Plan.

Northern California Residential Portfolio Acquisition

Coordinated comprehensive land use due diligence for Fortune 500 development company’s successful acquisition of multi-property portfolio of residential subdivision projects in northern California. Managed due diligence process by five attorneys for six separate projects in four counties, involving review of title reports, planning documents and regulations, Phase 1 environmental site assessments, CEQA compliance, utility service requirements, federal permitting requirements, and other applicable entitlement and permitting processes.

Stanford University Medical Center Expansion Project/City of Palo Alto

Served as special counsel to the City for land use and CEQA issues relating to expansion of Stanford University Medical Center. Advised the City on processing of applications submitted by the University for a general plan amendment, rezoning and use permits; the negotiation and drafting of a development agreement; and the preparation and certification of an environmental impact report.

City of Napa/Special Counsel for CEQA Matters

Currently serving as special counsel to the City for CEQA compliance on numerous development projects in the City, including the City’s proposed General Plan Update and new City Hall/Civic Center project and the proposed Napa Pipe development project.

International Park of Commerce Industrial Park/City of Tracy

Served as special counsel to the City on land use and CEQA matters in connection with its approval of a 1,700-acre industrial park in Tracy. Advised the City regarding preparation and adoption of a general plan amendment and specific plan; negotiated and drafted a development agreement with the property owner/developer; and advised on preparation and certification of an EIR for the project.

Sand Creek Focus Area General Plan Update and Specific Plan/City of Antioch

Served as land use and CEQA counsel for the City in connection with its approval of a General Plan amendment, Specific Plan, Resource Management Plan and Water Supply Assessment for the 2,700-acre Sand Creek Focus Area (Future Urbanization Area #1) in southeast Antioch.

3478 Buskirk Ave, Suite 1000
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

510.368.6413

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