Land Use & Approvals

Our Land Use & Approvals Group advises on all phases of the real estate development process and the complexities of acquiring zoning, planning and other regulatory approvals. Our experience includes:

• Identifying and obtaining necessary approvals from municipal, county, state and regional agencies;
• Appearances before planning and zoning boards;
• Appearances before state and regional agencies;
• Preparation of developers’ agreements;
• Opposition to third-party appeals;
• Appeals of decisions of planning & zoning boards and administrative agencies;
• Drafting amendments to land use ordinances; and
• Challenges to local ordinances.

Our attorneys have expansive significant represention of public agencies responsible for the implementation of redevelopment projects as well as representation of private developers designated as the redeveloper for a particular site, including:

• Investigation and designation of areas in need of rehabilitation and redevelopment
• Preparation of redevelopment plans
• Preparation and review of the qualifications of proposed redevelopers and obtaining the designation of redeveloper for private developers
• Negotiation and preparation of redevelopment agreements
• Advising on financing, grants and public incentives for project development such as tax abatement and tax increment financing opportunities
• Challenges to the redevelopment process such as illegal redevelopment and redeveloper designations