Mack Carlson

Shareholder

Background

Trusted advisor to a broad spectrum of clients in complex water, land use and housing matters. In-depth public agency and general counsel experience. Unique combination of scientific and legal expertise.

Mack Carlson is a dynamic natural resources attorney who advises public agencies, developers and water districts on complex environmental, land use, housing, public law and water law matters.

Mack has developed a detailed understanding of land use especially related to assisting developers understand and leverage California housing laws, including the Housing Accountability Act, Density Bonus Law and the Permit Streamlining Act, to advance residential and mixed-use project. He guides clients through their development options under various, streamlined ministerial permitting pathways under state law.  Mack also serves as assistant legal counsel for the City of Carpinteria, where he drafts ordinances, reviews contracts and advises on the California Environmental Quality Act compliance.

Leveraging his technical expertise as a former hydrogeologist and extensive legal experience, Mack advises on water and groundwater law for a wide variety of clients, including California Water District, large and small agricultural landowners and groundwater sustainability agencies. Mack tackles implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act from both the private and public agency perspective—assisting clients with review and development of groundwater sustainability plans. He also has served as general counsel for a groundwater sustainability agency in Southern California and deputy general counsel for the largest water district in California.

Before attending law school, Mack was a hydrogeologist in California and Utah, where he worked for an investor-owned water utility and international mineral extraction company. While in law school, he was a judicial extern for U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du in Nevada and a legal extern with the Office of the California Attorney General’s Office in the Land, Environment and Natural Resources Section.

Practices:

Industries:

Representative Matters

  • Specialized knowledge of California and Central Coast housing and land use regulations, CEQA, California Coastal Act, land use, and development strategy around issues including Builder’s Remedy, infill and muti-family properties and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Intimate knowledge of Central Coast jurisdictions including the City of Goleta, City and County of Santa Barbara, and City of Ojai.
  • CEQA, water, land use, and development strategy counsel to landowners regarding several proposed multi-family residential developments in highly challenging development environments. Projects include challenging water right conversions (agricultural to real estate use), Builder’s Remedy project applications, and General Plan Amendment issues.
  • Assisted with land use and litigation counsel for land use entitlements that culminated in a significant win on behalf of a housing developer client with a mixed, partially historical, multi-family and affordable infill project in the City of Ojai. The City Council unanimously approved a Settlement Agreement along with the extension application for one of our clients’ projects that includes a portion of City land, aggressive processing deadlines, discounts on development fees, and no indemnification requirement for the City against certain potential litigation.

Insights & Publications

Insights & Publications

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 2018, University of California, Davis School of Law, Order of the Coif
  • B.S., 2010, Tufts University

Admissions

  • California

Community Involvement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Board Member, Central Coast Chapter of the Groundwater Resources Association

Water Education Foundation, 2021 Water Leader Class

Recognition

AWARDS

William R. Gianelli Water Leaders Class of 2021, Water Education Foundation

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