Navigating approvals. Advancing developments.
Every project begins with two fundamental questions: what can be built, and where? The answer depends on a web of local, regional, and state regulations that govern how land can be used—and getting it wrong can stall a project before a shovel ever hits the ground.
Shumaker represents clients in all stages of land development, from land acquisition due diligence through final project approval and construction. Our Land Use & Zoning attorneys work alongside the firm’s Real Estate, Construction & Development team—as well as its governmental affairs and public policy professionals—to help clients navigate the maze of approvals that industrial, commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments require.
This integrated approach is central to what we do. By combining land use acumen with the firm’s relationships with local officials and its public affairs capabilities, we connect regulatory know-how with the practical ability to move projects forward.
Our attorneys regularly advise on the critical land use and zoning issues that developers, property owners, and investors face, including:
- Rezoning applications, comprehensive plan amendments, and special exception and conditional use approvals
- Zoning appeals and municipal code enforcement defense
- Annexation, eminent domain, and vacating of public rights-of-way
- Site plan approvals, development orders, and permitting for industrial, commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects
- Impact fee analysis and property tax considerations
- Due diligence on land use restrictions, entitlements, and development potential in connection with acquisitions
- Coordination with local planning commissions, elected officials, and municipal staff throughout the approval process
- Land use litigation, including challenges to governmental land use decisions
Whether the project is a master-planned residential community, a mixed-use urban development, or a large-scale commercial or industrial facility, our team helps clients secure the approvals they need while anticipating the regulatory and political dynamics that can shape a project’s trajectory.
