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San Diego

T(619) 235-1525

Education

  • J.D., UCLA School of Law

  • B.A., with high honors, University of California, Santa Barbara

Bar Admissions

  • California

Memberships

  • Building Industry Association of San Diego

Jeffrey A. Chine

Partner

Jeff is considered a preeminent land use lawyer in San Diego, assisting his clients navigate the legal, regulatory, and ever-increasing political challenges inherent in the entitlement of high-profile and controversial development projects. During these challenging times, Jeff is guiding his clients through uncharted waters by assisting those currently processing entitlements, and working diligently to preserve or extend those entitlements threatened by expiration. He continues to effectively work with jurisdictions that are now facing a myriad of challenges including civil court closures as well as limited staff and resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Land Use and Environmental Work, Local and Beyond

Jeff focuses in a wide variety of land use and environmental matters involving the permitting and development of complex mixed-use, residential, commercial, infill, and energy projects throughout California. He also represents developers in litigation with environmental groups and opponents of development in CEQA, Planning and Zoning Law, the Housing Accountability Act, the Subdivision Map Act, the Coastal Act, and other challenges to entitlements.

Industry Leadership Outside the Firm

Jeff acts as General Counsel for the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego County and chairs its Legal Action Committee. He has particular experience in emerging regulatory issues facing development in California, including the housing crisis, CEQA reform, water supply, and climate change. He frequently lectures to lawyers and professionals on land use and planning issues, and is a contributing author to Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) treatises on the Subdivision Map Act and Land Use Litigation. He has also taught CEQA to Superior Court Judges and Appellate Justices at the California Judicial College.

Before joining Allen Matkins, he was a partner and Chairman of the Real Estate Department of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps, where he practiced for 20 years.

Accolades

  • Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the Leading Lawyers in California Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2013 - 2024)
  • Inducted into the Building Industry Association of San Diego’s Hall of Fame (2020)
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2008 - 2025)
  • Best Lawyers' San Diego Land Use & Zoning Law "Lawyer of the Year" (2013, 2021, 2024)
  • Best Lawyers' San Diego Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year" (2014, 2018, 2023)
  • Named to San Diego Metro's San Diego's Best Attorneys (2016, 2018)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript’s Top 50 Influential Leaders in San Diego (2009, 2017)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript’s Top Commercial Real Estate Leaders (2017)
  • Building Industry Association of San Diego President’s Award for “Outstanding Service and Contributions to the Industry” (2009) and Industry Professional of the Year (2016)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript's Top Attorneys list (2007 - 2014)
  • Regularly recognized by Super Lawyers based on peer recognition and professional achievement
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating

Land Use and Environmental Work, Local and Beyond

Jeff focuses in a wide variety of land use and environmental matters involving the permitting and development of complex mixed-use, residential, commercial, infill, and energy projects throughout California. He also represents developers in litigation with environmental groups and opponents of development in CEQA, Planning and Zoning Law, the Housing Accountability Act, the Subdivision Map Act, the Coastal Act, and other challenges to entitlements.

Industry Leadership Outside the Firm

Jeff acts as General Counsel for the Building Industry Association (BIA) of San Diego County and chairs its Legal Action Committee. He has particular experience in emerging regulatory issues facing development in California, including the housing crisis, CEQA reform, water supply, and climate change. He frequently lectures to lawyers and professionals on land use and planning issues, and is a contributing author to Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) treatises on the Subdivision Map Act and Land Use Litigation. He has also taught CEQA to Superior Court Judges and Appellate Justices at the California Judicial College.

Before joining Allen Matkins, he was a partner and Chairman of the Real Estate Department of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps, where he practiced for 20 years.

Accolades

  • Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the Leading Lawyers in California Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2013 - 2024)
  • Inducted into the Building Industry Association of San Diego’s Hall of Fame (2020)
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2008 - 2025)
  • Best Lawyers' San Diego Land Use & Zoning Law "Lawyer of the Year" (2013, 2021, 2024)
  • Best Lawyers' San Diego Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year" (2014, 2018, 2023)
  • Named to San Diego Metro's San Diego's Best Attorneys (2016, 2018)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript’s Top 50 Influential Leaders in San Diego (2009, 2017)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript’s Top Commercial Real Estate Leaders (2017)
  • Building Industry Association of San Diego President’s Award for “Outstanding Service and Contributions to the Industry” (2009) and Industry Professional of the Year (2016)
  • Named to The Daily Transcript's Top Attorneys list (2007 - 2014)
  • Regularly recognized by Super Lawyers based on peer recognition and professional achievement
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating
  • Kilroy Realty. Entitlement of the mixed-use One Paseo project in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of City of San Diego consisting of roughly 100,000 square feet of retail development, 250,000 square feet of office, and 608 attached residential units on 24 acres. Our representation included all aspects of land use entitlements and environmental compliance. The project represents an important “smart growth” infill development certified by LEED and intended to implement the “City of Villages” policies of San Diego as well as regional goals of reducing dependency on automobiles through pedestrian friendly development.
  • HomeFed Corporation. Entitlement of a 2,600 acre master-planned community in Santee, California, and related CEQA litigation by a host of environmental organizations challenging the validity of project entitlements, including approximately 3,000 residential units, a community center, commercial village center, fire station and related infrastructure, over 1,500 acres of open space and recreational amenities.
  • Act as land use counsel in the entitlement of the Otay Ranch master-planned community in the City of Chula Vista involving approximately 9,000 residential units and 2,000,000 square feet of commercial development. The development agreement negotiated on behalf of the developer also contemplates the development of a major university and regional technology park. 
  • Building Industry Association of San Diego County. Serve as General Counsel, including its governmental affairs program in various jurisdictions within the San Diego region seeking local agency regulatory reform to promote housing production job growth. Representation included litigation against the City of Encinitas for ignoring state housing laws, legislation allowing developers to defer the payment of development impact fees from the issuance of building permits until final inspections, as well as reform of inclusionary housing regulations designed to provide housing.
  • Developer of an International Wind Energy Project. Approval by the County of San Diego of wind turbines in Mexico and associated infrastructure necessary to transport electricity across the border and into San Diego County regional electric grid. Our representation included compliance with California environmental regulations and local agency permitting. The project is designed to ultimately supply 1250 megawatts of renewal electricity. The project will assist the State of California in meeting its renewable energy goals.
  • Palomar Community College. CEQA compliance, and related entitlement and related litigation, including  two new college campuses in Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook.
  • Successfully entitled St. Paul's Cathedral adjacent to Balboa Park in the City of San Diego. The project includes two mixed-used (residential/commercial) towers and the renovation and 50,000 square foot expansion of the historically designated Cathedral. Project approval by the San Diego City Council with strong community support was the result of extensive community outreach and negotiation between the developer and area residents.

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