Cozen O’Connor: Zoning, Land Use & Development

Featured Publication:

Zoning Ordinance Declared Void [Alert]

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled last week that the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, known as “zMod,” is void ab initio.
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Cozen O’Connor has represented residential, commercial, retail, and industrial builders in the development and redevelopment of building lots and millions of square feet of real estate. Our team handles every aspect of the zoning, land use, and development approvals process, from obtaining building permits and variances to negotiating stormwater management and traffic plans. We have experience working on multifamily homes and condominiums, office buildings and shopping centers, single-use buildings such as pharmaceutical headquarters and educational institutions, municipal buildings, and public infrastructure. We are equally adept at managing development in densely built cities as in suburban or rural regions.

Having handled hundreds of projects to date, our real estate lawyers can recognize, anticipate, and resolve issues early. We advise clients candidly when a proposal is likely to confront insurmountable resistance in the approvals process and work closely with architectural, engineering, and budget experts to create realistic, approvable alternatives. Once a development plan is in place, we obtain the necessary approvals to allow construction to begin as soon as possible. We frequently engage government overseers on multiple, parallel tracks and are tenacious about advancing our clients' development goals.

Cozen O’Connor attorneys understand, however, that smart advocacy requires both persistence and diplomacy. Most real estate development — from the addition of a small parking lot to the construction of a one-million-square-foot high rise — invites objection from one party or another. To reach a satisfactory resolution and enable development to go forward, real estate counsel must listen to the concerns of all stakeholders and be able to communicate effectively with government officials, funders, community groups, and residents. Through open and respectful consultation, we are able to keep projects on track and out of court. In those rare cases when negotiation is not possible, we are prepared to litigate to protect clients’ legitimate property rights.

SERVICES

Appear before boards of elected officials, planning commissions, and zoning hearing boards
Guide clients through local, state, and federal agency land use application processes
Negotiate zoning approvals, variances, special exceptions, and conditional uses
Advocate for rezoning on clients’ behalf
Obtain land use approvals and special use permits
Obtain site plan and subdivision approvals
Address grading, floodplain, stormwater management, and other environmental issues
Address highway occupancy and traffic considerations
Represent clients in land use, zoning, boundary line, and easement litigation