Orange County (the “County”) proposed a Temporary Suspension Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) which would defer decisions on development applications within the County’s unincorporated areas....more
We would not blame you if you said that dealing with attorneys is not your favorite part of being a municipal official. However, in our defense, people use attorneys because they need help with complicated legal processes and...more
Welcome to the first edition of The Leisure Law Insider, brought to you by Akerman's Chambers ranked Hospitality Sector Team! It will be released quarterly, covering the latest news and developments in leisure and hospitality...more
A roundup of news and multimedia from the Unfamiliar Terrain team: San Francisco - San Francisco Office Market Shows Signs of Life (Wall Street Journal): Sales slowly materialize as some sellers accept lower prices,...more
In downtown San Francisco, office vacancy has skyrocketed as hybrid work has transformed the way in which employers and employees use office space. This, in turn, has decreased activity downtown, negatively impacting the...more
At the June 13, 2023 Board of Supervisors hearing, the “Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse and Downtown Economic Revitalization” legislation was introduced. The legislation would amend various Planning Code sections to...more
In response to Mayor London Breed’s recent Executive Directive, titled “Housing For All,” on May 4, 2023, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a package of Planning...more
A roundup of news and multimedia from the Unfamiliar Terrain team: San Francisco - Housing Wonks on a Mission to Shorten S.F.’s Permitting Process (Fixing Our City Podcast): Assemblymember Matt Haney and YIMBY...more
Attention to land use and zoning matters should be considered early in the real estate development process. Projects may require relief in the form of a master plan amendment, rezoning, special or conditional use permit,...more
A recent decision out of Hamilton County highlights the importance of experts in zoning disputes. In Kinney v. Newtown Bd of Zoning Appeals, 2021-Ohio-4217 (1st Dist.), the property owner sought planning commission approval...more
On February 2, 2022, in Bankers Hill 150 v. City of San Diego, __ Cal.App.5th __ (Case No. D077963), the Fourth District Court of Appeal relied on fundamental provisions of California’s Density Bonus Law in rejecting a...more
On Jan. 31, 2022, Prince William County, Virginia, released its draft Land Use Chapter and draft Future Land Use Map for public review and comment. The new releases are part of the county’s comprehensive plan update known...more
The Suffolk County legislature is currently considering a bill (I.R. 1478-2021) that would provide towns and villages with a greater opportunity to weigh in on certain zoning applications proposed in adjacent municipalities...more
On Monday, May 3, 2021, the New York City Planning Commission (CPC) “referred” the Department of City Planning’s (DCP) proposed zoning text that would mandate a Special Permit for all new hotels in New York City, beginning...more
Multiple applications for a development project are not required where the first permit denial makes clear that no development of the property would be allowed under any circumstance. Felkay v. City of Santa Barbara, No....more
Opportunities to purchase rights in agricultural land that may be rezoned to residential are often presented to the public. Indeed, the purchase of such agricultural land may prove to be of great potential. However, there are...more
As a “home rule” state, New York’s zoning and other land use decisions are typically made at the village, town, or city level. However, Section 239-m of the General Municipal Law (GML) requires a referral to, and a...more
This week, we provide an update on the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s newly issued regulations. This summary is followed by our weekly zoning, land use, and construction update. ...more
In early June 2020, Arlington County will roll out a new virtual Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) process that should streamline Arlington’s community review process in the short to midterm....more
The Government’s immediate planning response to the coronavirus pandemic taking hold in the UK focussed on ensuring that planning committee meetings could continue and take place remotely and on the introduction of some...more
On Monday, March 9, we dusted off the weekend cobwebs, packed ourselves into commuter trains and buses, and headed to work or school like we always do. Most of us viewed COVID-19 as a distant public-health aberration, just...more
On March 3, San Francisco voters will consider Proposition E (“San Francisco Balanced Development Act”), which links the City’s “Proposition M” office allocation scheme, originally approved by voters in 1986, to affordable...more
Costs for many non-residential developments in San Francisco are poised to increase. On September 19, 2019, the Planning Commission approved a proposed ordinance that would more than double the City-wide Jobs Housing Linkage...more
After over seven years of planning and public outreach, as of January 7, 2019, the Central SoMa Plan and its implementing legislation are finally effective. The City’s analysis concludes that the Plan area has development...more
CEQA Case Report: Understanding the Judicial Landscape for Development - In an unpublished opinion issued October 22, 2018, Tennis Club Preservation Society v. City of Palm Springs, Case No. E068896, the California Court...more