Zoning. Our attorneys assist developers seeking rezoning, variances, special use permits, subdivision approvals, site plans, and other land use approvals for development projects. We frequently represent clients in matters involving administrative or judicial review of zoning decisions. We are also experienced in representing and advising condemners and condemnees in all aspects of eminent domain proceedings.
Environmental Reviews. Environmental review is now an integral part of the process for obtaining project approvals, rezoning, and permits. The Group’s attorneys counsel clients in the preparation and filing of applications for project approvals and permits, assist in the preparation of environmental impact statements, and represent clients at hearings before municipal boards and administrative agencies. We have substantial experience in the permitting of large controversial projects including commercial properties, industrial mining sites and the like.
We are technically adept at addressing all types of issues, including those related to traffic, wetlands, drainage, and waterfront development, as well as those related to cultural resources and site contamination.
Brownfield Site Development. Our Group’s attorneys have extensive experience in buying, selling, financing, and developing contaminated properties. We have a comprehensive understanding of federal and state agency requirements, consent orders, enforcement criteria, and the technical, cleanup, and regulatory requirements involved with remediating sites. On an almost daily basis, we are negotiating remedial investigation and feasibility studies, cleanup levels, consent orders, and compliance issues with both state and federal agencies.
Managing Community Involvement/Controversial Projects. We have extensive experience in coordinating community participation programs for various remedial sites, and have partnered with regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and neighborhood and community groups. We have developed fact sheets, press releases, decision documents, and public communication releases related to those projects. We have also worked with public relations, public survey, and other outside consultants to handle particularly sensitive projects.
Litigation. In addition to assisting in the management of the environmental impact review process, we have also successfully defended economic development and land use approvals in state and federal courts. Our firm also regularly represents parties in environmental litigation associated with property management and development, including cost recovery litigation under CERCLA and the New York State Navigation Law and, if necessary, enforcement and compliance matters.
Wetlands. Our firm has extensive experience in working with state and federal authorities to obtain wetlands approvals. We have worked with clients on projects that had impact studies on jurisdictional wetlands as small as one acre and as large as more than 100 acres. We have extensive technical, regulatory, and litigation experience on wetlands issues.