Real Estate Developer Rights When Cities Demand Too Much
How To Be A Project Advocate By Diffusing Adjacent Neighbor Tensions
North Carolina Senate Bill 166 (Session Law 2024-49), the majority of which became effective on September 11, 2024, amended various N.C. state building codes, regulations for contractors and design professionals, and...more
Following the devastating fires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-4-25 to expedite recovery and rebuilding efforts. Released on January 12, 2025, the Order suspends...more
In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-4-25 on January 12, 2025 to expedite the recovery process in affected communities. The following...more
In an effort to streamline development approvals, the City of Miami has introduced a new Administrative Site Plan Review (ASPR) procedure to address projects that meet zoning requirements without requiring special permits....more
Welcome to the Third Issue of Sullivan’s Zoning and Development Newsletter- This newsletter is a collaboration between members of our Permitting & Land Use Practice Group and the Litigation Department, in order to provide...more
Recently in BMG Monroe I, LLC v. Village of Monroe Zoning Board of Appeals, the Second Department reinforced strict compliance with all State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) visual impact findings and mitigation...more
Florida was hit by Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and Hurricane Nicole in November 2022, both of which caused severe damage to various parts of the state. In response to these disasters, the Florida Legislature enacted...more
A court rejected a developer’s attempt to take advantage of provisions in the Housing Accountability Act that prohibit a City from requiring a rezoning when zoning is inconsistent with the General Plan. It upheld Los...more
House Bill 14 (by Harris (R), House District 8, Palestine, Anderson County, Texas) - Effective September 1, 2023 - THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF PLATS, PLANS, PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS - HB 14 adds a new Chapter 247 to the...more
In response to Mayor London Breed’s recent Executive Directive, titled “Housing For All,” on May 4, 2023, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a package of Planning...more
The land use entitlement process in California is notoriously complicated, lengthy, and fraught with uncertainty. Less attention is paid to the process of receiving building permits, post-entitlement. Generally, this process...more
As DC continues to explore ways to incentivize office-to-residential conversions and revitalize downtown, the Zoning Commission recently dismissed a pending text amendment that would have removed the exemption for...more
A roundup of news and multimedia from the Unfamiliar Terrain team...more
Governor DeSantis allowed Executive Order No. 20-51 to expire on April 27, 2021. Permit holders must now notify the responsible agency or local government within 90 days of the termination of the order (no later than...more
Due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, many municipalities across Long Island are experiencing significant backlogs of processing building permit applications. ...more
On May 3, 2021, the City Planning Commission referred out for public review a zoning text amendment that would require a special permit for the creation or material enlargement of transient hotels (Zoning Use Group 5) and...more
Multiple applications for a development project are not required where the first permit denial makes clear that no development of the property would be allowed under any circumstance. Felkay v. City of Santa Barbara, No....more
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has adopted material changes to state zoning laws designed to encourage housing development, and in some cases mixed-use development that includes housing. This Holland & Knight alert...more
In Matter of Bernstein v Putnam Val. Zoning Bd. of Appeals, property owners sought to construct a hot tub on their residential property, located in a protected area known as a wetland buffer. The Wetlands Inspector for the...more
On January 14, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth (the “Act”). The Act is a comprehensive economic relief and stimulus bill that will affect a multitude of industries across...more
The Ballard Spahr Zoning and Land Use Team is continuing to monitor all aspects of the City of Philadelphia land use approval process during the COVID-19 emergency, including the issuance of zoning and building permits,...more
Progression of all stages of a development are likely to be challenging for the foreseeable future, particularly decisions around whether to implement valuable planning permissions that are due to expire during the pandemic...more
For many years, the development industry in Florida has been able to extend building permits, development orders, and other government approvals during the time period when the governor declares a state of emergency, pursuant...more
In response to Hurricane Dorian, Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order No. 19-190 (reaffirming and amending Executive Order No. 19-189) declaring a state of emergency for all 67 counties in the state of Florida....more