Land Use, Zoning & Historic Preservation

Pillsbury’s land use team has extensive knowledge and experience in navigating all aspects of the zoning, land use, and historic preservation approval process within state laws and local regulations governing matters such as general plans, zoning, development permits, environmental impact reports, and development exactions and conditions. We also have strong knowledge of specialized land use laws affecting eminent domain, the coastal zone, wetlands, timber lands, solid and municipal waste and endangered species. Our experience includes infrastructure financing for the development of roadways, sewers and water systems.

We work closely with our clients to analyze applicable development requirements, prepare all necessary applications, and present the proposals in meetings and public hearings. Our extensive contacts with local government officials and community and civic groups augment our representation, helping us obtain numerous approvals on behalf of our clients. These include major rezonings, special exceptions, special permits, subdivisions, historic preservation approvals, transferable development rights (TDRs), zoning text amendments, environmental reviews, tax incentives and benefits (including historic preservation tax credits), building permits, certificates of occupancy, legislation, and street and alley closings.

In addition to counseling, our attorneys appear before state and local agencies on a variety of matters. We also have an extensive land use litigation practice, including mandamus and inverse condemnation (“takings”) claims. Our land use attorneys work on a wide variety of matters ranging from offshore oil and gas developments to resource recovery facilities, office buildings, shopping centers, residential subdivisions, landfills, college campuses and transit systems.