Our zoning and land use attorneys counsel and represent developers, landowners, neighboring property owners, and governmental bodies in all types of land use matters, including zoning, platting, permitting, eminent domain, tax abatement, economic incentives, and impact fee issues. We represent clients before cities, counties, the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, TNRCC, and other governmental agencies. Our representation involves contested matters (including litigation) as well as negotiated resolution of land use disputes. We coordinate with the firm's Environmental Practice Group in matters requiring the resolution of environmental issues, and work closely with the firm's Real Estate Practice Group to facilitate transactional matters which involve land use issues.

RECENT ZONING & LAND USE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Our attorneys' accomplishments include:

• Representing a North Dallas neighborhood group in negotiations for the zoning of a private school, with backup zoning for residential, office, and retail uses.
  
  
• Representing an Oak Lawn condominium association in enforcing a letter agreement regarding the characteristics of a nearby development.
  
  
• Representing an institutional landowner in the agreed resolution of a zoning application for the Baylor University Medical Center.
  
  
• Successfully challenging the consideration of an Addison charter amendment adversely affecting the zoning and land use rights of a firm client.
  
  
• Helping to obtain planned development district zoning to legalize a "swap" of remote parking areas for a nightclub in East Dallas. The parking swap enabled our client to enter into a long-term lease of the former parking area for part of a major new retail facility.
  
  
• Representing a community-based bank in opposing the proliferation of sexually-oriented businesses and other noxious uses in the Bachman Lake area of Dallas. This multifaceted representation involved close liaison with various City departments, representation before City boards, and the monitoring and pursuit of numerous lawsuits.
  
  
• Representing the City of Dallas in eminent domain proceedings to acquire land needed for the American Airlines Center and related thoroughfare improvements.
  
  
• Helping neighboring property owners defeat a proposal for an intrusive lighted school athletic field in a North Dallas residential neighborhood.
  
  
• Representing a shopping center developer in obtaining decertification of an unused portion of a historic cemetery in a Fort Worth suburb.
  
  
• Helping an Oak Cliff neighborhood association negotiate an agreed resolution of a zoning case. The groundbreaking "win-win" solution negotiated by the firm gave the developer zoning for a senior housing facility and small retail center in exchange for donation of a 111-acre nature preserve adjacent to the development.
  
  
• Representing a coalition of fourteen neighborhood associations, churches, and schools in negotiating an agreed resolution of a zoning case involving an office, retail, and multifamily development on a centrally-located vacant 40-acre tract in North Dallas.
  
  
• Defeating a rival Fortune 100 company's attempt to rezone a Sherman industrial park to commercial use, which would have stifled the future growth of a major industrial client.

PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTIONS

Our land use and zoning attorneys bring a wealth of experience to their practice. Members of the zoning and land use practice group have served in a wide range of capacities on behalf of public and nonprofit groups involved in land use issues, having served as:

• Board Attorney of Dallas County Schools (countywide school district)
• member of the Dallas City Plan and Zoning Commission
• 20-year member of the Dallas Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee
• a principal architect of Dallas' 1987-89 Zoning Transition Program
• member of the Dallas Ethics Review Task Force
• member of the Dallas Charter Review Commission
• president of the Dallas Homeowners League (citywide neigh­borhood coalition) and Texas Neigh­borhoods Together (statewide neighborhood coalition)
• member of the Carrollton City Council
• member of the Carrollton Development Ordinance Advisory Commission

  
     
OVERVIEW OF PRACTICE AREAS

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