Experience
Land use entitlements: zoning compliance, subdivisions, general plan amendments, specific plans, community and area plans, master plans, conditional use permits, variances, site development plans, annexations, coastal development permits and air quality permits.
Land use agreements: development agreements, implementing agreements, memoranda of understanding with local agencies, local and state tax agreements, signage agreements and covenants, consultant agreements, agreements with Native American tribes, phasing agreements, settlement agreements, mutual support and cooperation agreements.
Other environmental approvals: Section 404 (Wetlands – Clean Water Act), Section 401 (Water Quality Certification – Clean Water Act), Section 106 (Historic Resources), federal and California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), water supply, Section 7 or Section 9 (Endangered Species Act), natural conservation and community plans/habitat conservation plans, state wetlands approvals, permits and variances under the state and federal Clean Air Act.
Environmental review: CEQA (Environmental Impact Reports, Mitigated Negative Declarations, exemptions), NEPA (Environmental Impact Statements, environmental assessments, exemptions).
Litigation: petitions for writ of mandate in trial and appellate courts, complaints for takings and other constitutional violations.
Accolades
Several members of Alston & Bird’s land development team have been recognized for their excellence by Chambers, Daily Journal (California) and Who’s Who in American Law, and many hold leadership positions with well-established land use organizations such as Urban Land Institute, Central City Association, California Building Industry Association, Valley Industry and Commerce Association, and the Lusk Real Estate Center (University of Southern California). With its 20-year history, the land development group has had numerous trial and appellate court successes and, collectively, the group’s attorneys have compiled a comprehensive knowledge of environmental and land use law that is unparalleled. A few key members of the group have held top positions with the federal government and California.