Land Use and Zoning Law

Our firm has an active land use and zoning practice, focuses on advising high-net worth individual landowners, as well as lenders, developers and institutions such as non-profits and churches. We also serve as local counsel on discreet zoning issues for national and regional law firms or their clients and we represent small and mid-sized developers in towns and rural economy areas where other firms may not have depth of coverage.

We work with the client's team of experts or assemble suitable professionals to address the challenges unique to each property or project. Our lawyers can identify and develop solutions with the Commonwealth, counties, towns, VDOT, DEQ, and other state or local agencies. When warranted, these team members will work with the litigation attorneys to employ appropriate judicial remedies.

Illustrative Representation and Transactions:

• Guided regional institution through $7,000,000 acquisition, land use approvals and issuance of development permits for non-residential use in Loudoun County with a value of over $20,000,000; 
• Guided owner through acquisition, zoning and subdivision analyses, proffer dispute and contentious architectural board review for 19-unit townhouse development in Middleburg; 
• Successfully challenged "downzoning" and other efforts to thwart subdivision of over 500 acres in Loudoun County, allowing for negotiation and sale of property in excess of $15,000,000; 
• Identified and implemented Comprehensive Plan changes to facilitate strategic acquisition of parcel ripe for commercial rezoning;
• Obtained land use approvals from various Boards of Supervisors, Town Councils, Planning Commissions, Historic and Architectural Review Commissions, and Boards of Zoning Appeals, for various commercial, institutional and residential projects.

Attorney for this Practice Area:
Benjamin D. Leigh