The New York State FY 2025 budget legislation enacted on April 20th included an important and long-awaited housing reform for New York City: elimination of the “12 FAR” cap for residential buildings. City officials and...more
Following a recent planning study, Fairfax County has seated a task force to begin re-writing the comprehensive plan for Centreville, Virginia. The updated comprehensive plan will guide any necessary or desired zoning and...more
Fauquier County and Fairfax County are tightening zoning regulations for data center developments. In March, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors approved zoning changes for the Vint Hill area's Planned Commercial...more
We would not blame you if you said that dealing with attorneys is not your favorite part of being a municipal official. However, in our defense, people use attorneys because they need help with complicated legal processes and...more
Recent Legislation Amending the Surplus Lands Act Provides Clarity and Additional Flexibility to Public Agencies - Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 747 and Assembly Bill 480 into law to make common-sense...more
The City of Los Angeles’s Planning Department is proposing an expansion to the City’s innovative adaptive reuse policies. Specifically, the City is proposing to amend Sections 12.03, 12.22 A.26, 12.24 X and 16.05 of the Los...more
Kramer Levin recently hosted a seminar titled “Emerging Issues in Land Use: The Year in Review and What’s Ahead,” where experts discussed New York City planning initiatives and land use trends. Among the speakers were Jessica...more
Picture this scenario: You have a residential development project that had conceptual approval from the local Planning Board two years ago. Under the local laws that existed when you applied for your approval, you were...more
Last week the Office of the Attorney General demonstrated the State of California’s unwillingness to cede its enforcement of state housing laws even in the face of defiance from local governments. On April 10, in People of...more
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ wide-ranging land use bill targeting housing affordability was introduced on March 22, 2023, as SB 23-213, sponsored by Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Adams) and Reps. Iman Jodeh (D-Arapahoe) and Steven...more
As of January 31st, the deadline for many Bay Area cities and counties to adopt legally compliant Housing Elements now has passed, and many jurisdictions remain without certifications from the California Department of Housing...more
Recent zoning and land use developments within the City of Cleveland indicate new thoughts and plans for action along Cleveland’s lakefront and riverfront. While Cleveland’s Lake Erie lakefront has long been the subject of...more
After tinkering with parts of the compulsory purchase regime in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, in an effort to streamline and modernise it, the government has now published a consultation with potentially significant...more
On December 4, 2019, the Los Angeles City Council adopted Ordinance No. 186477 which prohibits a “restricted developer” or “principal” from making contributions to the Mayor, City Attorney, City Councilmember, a candidate...more
In this final instalment of our series on the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill, we take a look at the changes proposed to compulsory purchase powers as well as some of the planning aspects in the 338 page Bill that you...more
UPDATE: OPA Releases Final Abatement Regulations Answering Several Questions - The Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment (OPA) recently finalized regulations (the Regulations) addressing many issues that we identified...more
The Ballard Spahr Zoning and Land Use Team continues to monitor all aspects of the Philadelphia land use approval process, including the issuance of zoning and building permits, regulation of construction work, and zoning and...more
LA's massive new rezoning plan could lead to the construction of 255,000 new housing units by 2029 - Spectrum News – October 14 - The city of Los Angeles is short nearly 500,000 units, according to the Los Angeles Housing...more
The city’s proposed City-Wide Hotel Special Permit text amendment continues to move through the public review process. On Wednesday July 14, the City Planning Commission (CPC) held its public hearing....more
Local agencies routinely require project applicants to agree to indemnification on application forms or as conditions of approval. These agreements or conditions of approval typically include language requiring an applicant...more
Most developers are familiar with the notion that under California’s Subdivision Map Act, the vesting tentative map statutes provide a way of fixing a developer’s rights. Put simply, obtaining a vesting tentative map allows...more
The Ballard Spahr Zoning and Land Use Team is continuing to monitor all aspects of the Philadelphia land use approval process during the COVID-19 emergency, including the issuance of zoning and building permits, regulation of...more
Below, please find a summary of notable political law developments in New York, Texas and the city of Los Angeles. New York State Reduces Contribution Limits Beginning in November 2022 - Late last year, the New York...more
For the first time in over 50 years, the City of Portland is rewriting its Land Use Code, which is found in Chapter 14 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The effort involves several substantive policy changes aimed at making...more
In the second of our series on compulsory purchase, we turn to what you should do if your property is at risk of compulsory acquisition....more