Land Use Planning, Development and Litigation
Our attorneys assist a wide range of clients to include:
- Individual landowners
- Shopping centers developers
- Residential real estate developers
- Business park developers
- Churches
- Mining and aggregate interests
- Regional and national development corporations
- Public agencies in all aspects of the land development process
This assistance includes all aspects of the land use entitlement process from filing applications to and through the final administrative approval for general plan amendments, use permits, subdivision maps, EIRs and endangered species problems. We also serve as special counsel to public agencies involved in redevelopment projects and plans. Since our firm's inception in 1997 our attorneys have made literally hundreds of presentations to local government planning bodies. More details concerning the type and complexity of the land use matters handled by our firm are available at the newspaper link.
A major aspect of this practice area involves the proper interpretations of:
- General plans
- Specific plans
- Zoning regulations
- State and local regulations
- The California Environmental Quality Act
If disputes develop which necessitate litigation, our attorneys have an exceptional depth of knowledge and experience in representing clients through the court process. Our attorneys have handled over twenty five appeals that have been decided by appellate courts, and have represented clients before the California appellate courts, the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court. A representative sampling of our representation of clients on land use matters is found at the court cases link. See the biographies of Steve Herum, Brett Jolley, Natalie Weber, and Karna Harrigfeld.