Land Use

Construction site

Zoning, Land Development and Permitting

Every real estate development project starts with a vision, but before construction can begin, land owners and developers must secure government approvals and satisfy neighbor and community concerns, a time-consuming and costly process. In addition, public relations issues may arise in the case of large-scale, high-profile developments. 

Attorneys in Saul Ewing's Land Use Practice understand these challenges due to our experience with complex, high-impact projects. We represent developers in a wide array of industries, including health care, higher education, energy and telecommunications on challenging projects, including:

  • Hospitals and medical centers
  • School campuses and other educational facilities
  • Pipelines and energy infrastructure
  • Mobile phone towers and other telecommunications infrastructure
  • New communities: single family, multi-family and mixed use projects, whether in densely developed urban locations or in environmentally sensitive sites such as watersheds
  • Corporate campuses

Our work includes seeking approvals and permits at the municipal, county and state levels, as well as advising on zoning, transportation, water and sewer service, aesthetic considerations (such as signage and landscaping), and compliance issues, including the allowable density of development and its impact on the environment. We also navigate controversies arising from regulatory and community scrutiny, handle appeals and, when necessary, work to change or challenge applicable ordinances. 

We understand that real estate development is a team effort, so we coordinate with planners, engineers, architects and other professionals to help find solutions that satisfy the law while fulfilling our clients’ project goals. Developers with multi-state operations may benefit from the firm’s geographic reach, which allows our team to provide seamless service across the borders of California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.


 

Key Contact
Wendie C. Stabler
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