RSVP Join our Mailing List Search      

Discover more about what's happening in public law...

Areas of Law  |  SPECIAL DISTRICT
Land Use

There are two facets to our land use and environmental practice: advice and litigation.

Meyers Nave attorneys have the necessary knowledge and experience to provide advice and counsel to our clients in the land use process to assure compliance with the State Planning and Zoning Law, the California Environmental Quality (CEQA)Act, the Coastal Act, Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and other land use and environmental laws. One of our attorneys has several years' experience as a planner and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

We have assisted cities in updating their general plans and in adopting specific plans. Our attorneys review the draft plans and environmental impact reports, prepare all necessary findings and resolutions, and work with city staff to assure our clients' actions will be as defensible as possible.

We assist our clients in processing conditional use permits and variances to assure that such actions are consistent with applicable general plans and are supported by appropriate findings. We have special expertise in annexation, detachment and incorporation proceedings, including negotiations for property tax sharing agreements.

If land use decisions are challenged in court, as often happens for a variety of reasons, we vigorously defend our clients' decisions. Although no law firm wins every case, Meyers Nave has an outstanding track record in land use and environmental litigation.

Meyers Nave's land use and environmental law attorneys have the hands-on experience necessary to deliver creativity, insight and results to our public entity clients. All of our group members have represented cities, counties, special districts and other public agencies on a wide range of land use and environmental matters. Members of our group currently serve as city attorney for more than 25 cities in California, and have represented well over 100 other public entities on land use and environmental issues. We also serve as redevelopment counsel to more than 20 agencies, and as general counsel to water districts, sanitation districts, a conference center authority and other special districts.

The land use and environmental law group provides a wide range of services to public agencies including:

  • General and specific plan preparation, interpretation and implementation
  • Negotiation and preparation of development agreements
  • Planned unit developments, variances, conditional use permits, and subdivision maps
  • Subdivision improvement and encroachment agreements
  • Coastal Commission Development Permits and Bay Area Conservation and Development Commission Compliance
  • Regulation of adult businesses and other undesirable uses
  • Clean Water Act Compliance/NPDES Permitting
  • Wetland Fill Permit Acquisition and Compliance
  • Brownfield remediation
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance
  • AB 939 Solid Waste Compliance
  • Storm Water Compliance
  • Water Law/Water Rights

We also provide training and workshops on the following:

  • Implementing the CEQA guidelines
  • Drafting findings and conditions of approval for development projects
  • Variances and conditional use permits
  • Regulating trench cuts on public agency property
  • Clean Water Act enforcement
  • Brown Act and Political Reform Act compliance
  • Regulating adult businesses

Our attorneys are committed to helping our public agency clients avoid disputes and actions associated with land use and environmental regulations. When conflicts are unavoidable, we can help you obtain superior results in an efficient and effective manner.

Head of Group Contact:
Steve Mattas
e-mail: smattas@meyersnave.com
To Request a Brochure or Additional Information:
Call Client Relations at 510.808.2000 or
send an e-mail to: info@meyersnave.com

Attorneys:
Bond, Julia
Crossman, Brian
Hupp, Erin

Links, Resources and Updates Related to this Area:
Conferences and Meetings (5 items)
  • Sustainable Development Strategies: Get Informed and Participate In Developing the Regulations or Get Run Over
  • Structuring a Successful Public/Private Development Project
  • Land Use: Major and Minor Subdivisions Rules and Laws
  • CEQA: California Environmental Quality Act
  • Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations in California

    Presentations (2 items)
  • Integrating Land Use and Transportation to Achieve Transit-Oriented Development: Reality or Chimera?
  • California's Emerging Topics in Land Use: Solutions For Public Entities to Handle the Effects of the Growing Foreclosure Crisis and Implementing Green Building Ordinances in Your Community

    Press Releases (1 items)
  • Meyers Nave Announces Addition of John Harris to Los Angeles Office

    Publications (9 items)
  • MN Legal Alert: Mitigation Measures May Survive Expired Approval
  • MN Legal Alert: First Appellate District Rules CEQA's One-Year Rule for Certifying an EIR not Mandatory
  • MN Legal Alert: U.S. District Court Holds that Owners and Operators of Municipal Sewer Systems May Be Liable Under CERCLA for Contamination Caused by Third Parties
  • MN Legal Alert: Legislature Responds to Economic Downturn by Extending the Lives of Tentative Subdivision Maps for Two Years
  • MN Legal Alert: New Case Could Have Far Reaching Implications For Collection of In Lieu Fees
  • MN Legal Alert: Save Tara Case Provides Guidance on Agreements for Development Contingent upon Subsequent CEQA Review
  • Land Use and Environmental Law Group Executive Summary, Issue No. 5, July 2005
  • Executive Summary Issue 3, May 2005
  • Land Use and Environmental Law Legal Update: Court Upholds CEQA Review of Future Water Supply


    Practice Areas within the Special District Department :
    Public Law
    Election Law
    Revenue & Taxation



    back to top of Land Use

    Disclaimer    
    ©2003-2009, Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson.  All rights reserved.  

    HOME  |   THE FIRM  |   AREAS OF LAW  |   TRAINING      
    OUR PEOPLE  |   RESOURCES  |   JOBS  |   SITE MAP  |   CONTACT US