Joshua Varinsky Attorney
Overview
Joshua Varinsky’s traversing of cities, both domestic and abroad, landed him in the fields of land use and municipal law. At White Brenner LLP, Josh focuses on land use and planning matters for the firm’s municipal clients. His background in urban planning and public policy helps him tackle regulatory issues affecting all tiers of government. Josh’s areas of practice include planning and zoning law, the Subdivision Map Act, CEQA, housing, development agreements, public finance, and Local Agency Formation Commissions.
During law school at the University of California, Davis, Josh held internships with the Oakland City Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office. Josh also spent a semester in Washington, D.C., externing in the Rulemaking Division of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. For his Master of Urban Planning at the University of Southern California, Josh concentrated in economic development and real estate finance, interning with affordable housing and economic development firms.
Josh graduated from Tulane University with majors in Political Science and Spanish. After college, Josh worked in Texas, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Eventually, Josh made his way to Sacramento, not far from his upbringing in Oakland.
If not a lawyer… I would be in education and coach baseball. Education comes in many forms, and any student leader is in a position to unlock potential. I would love to help students find their passions and navigate complex environments… so long as the baseball diamond is not too far away.
Projects
- 3+ years of Local Government Experience
- Deputy General Counsel for Reclamation District 799, a special district with responsibility for levee and drainage facilities
- Deputy General Counsel for Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District
- Deputy General Counsel for Groveland Community Services District
- Drafted resolutions for the City of Dixon General Plan Update, including EIR review and drafting of CEQA findings
- Advised City of Newman through mail ballot election for annexation of 362 acres into city limits, to advance development of Master Plan for residential, business park, and public uses
- Drafted Development Agreement for ~130 acres planned for residential and commercial uses in City of Patterson
- Prepared ordinances establishing development fees on properties within Specific Plan to reimburse Master Developer for infrastructure and entitlement costs
- Advised municipality through 4-mile sewer trunk line repair project, including review of historic easements and construction routes, and drafted property owner notification letters and access agreements
- Facilitated suspension of growth-control ordinance, as part of Housing Element Update and compliance with Housing Crisis Act
- Drafted Improvement and Maintenance Agreement between Developer and Reclamation District, as well a Joint CFD Maintenance Agreement between City of Oakley and Reclamation District regarding construction of new levees and drainage facilities as part of a 409-acre subdivision project
- Facilitating redevelopment of former U.S. Army ammunition plant requiring conveyance of 5 parcels from Federal Government to City of Riverbank, and subsequent transfer from City to Master Industrial Developer; site included on National Priorities List under Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Federal “Superfund” statute)
Credentials
- J.D., U.C. Davis School of Law
- M.A., Urban Planning, University of Southern California
- B.A., Political Science & Spanish, Tulane University
- Member, California State Bar
- Witkin Award, Local & State Government