Securing the necessary land use and zoning permissions is crucial to the smooth operation of any business today. We partner with clients to ensure they not only comply with regulations, but are also able to develop, build on and use land in ways that foster their business success. Our attorneys leverage years spent building relationships and navigating all levels of government to help clients meet their goals.
Securing the necessary land use and zoning permissions is crucial to the smooth operation of any business today. We partner with clients to ensure they not only comply with regulations, but are also able to develop, build on and use land in ways that foster their business success. Our attorneys leverage years spent building relationships and navigating all levels of government to help clients meet their goals.
We work with a broad client base, including owners of raw land, commercial and residential developers, building owners and purchasers, neighborhood groups, developers of landfills, lenders, and wireless telecommunications tower developers. We also advise owners of property being annexed by municipalities or condemned for public projects.
Land use touches many different areas of law, and we counsel clients on the full range of planning and compliance matters, and assist with every aspect of the process. Our work includes handling local and regional zoning petitions, subdivision requests, variance requests, and appeals.
We regularly represent clients on issues involving:
Land Use and Development
We assist owners and developers of real estate projects with land use and zoning issues, working closely with their engineers, architects, consultants and other professional advisors. This integrates the zoning and permitting process seamlessly into the project and ensures that our clients secure all the permissions needed to complete their projects on time and in a cost-effective manner.
Zoning
Zoning plays a key role in determining whether or not a company can operate successfully.
Because clients frequently want to use or develop property in a manner that differs from the current allowable use in a given jurisdiction, this practice area frequently involves challenges to federal, state and municipal constitutions and statutes. Our attorneys routinely appear before municipal and county bodies to assist our clients in zoning issues. They also handle appeals of zoning decisions to the state court system.
We regularly assist landowners whose property is being taken for a public project, by negotiating changes to the project to reduce the adverse impact on the landowner’s remaining property and in seeking just compensation from state and local governments when governmental regulations result in a taking of private property.
Condemnations/Inverse Condemnation
We advise clients involved in condemnations not only on whether the government has the right to take their property, but also on the appropriate means to secure the highest value for that property. Our work includes representing clients in probate court condemnation proceedings and in jury trials appealing condemnation awards.
Easements and Covenants
The acquisition, development, and equalization of real property often involves addressing the maze of easements and covenants that apply to the land. Likewise, owners of developments often find themselves at a loss for how to enforce covenants and restrictions they have created to ensure the orderly use and future growth of real estate within a development. We routinely help clients navigate and enforce the application of these easements and covenants.
Representative Clients
- Barber Realty
- CVS
- Charles Kessler
- Crown Communications
- Daniel Realty
- EBSCO
- Energen
- General Growth Partners
- Home Depot
- Regions Bank
- RJR Mining
- St. Vincent’s Hospital