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<br />WE COLE &n B ERMAN AN
<br />AT THE Cnus)Qoaos. of DWMSs GovomNuE,T & na I-Aw
<br />Land lJse and Zoning (Public)
<br />Our Public Land Use and Zoning Practice Group, led by Susan Trevarthen, includes attorneys who are certified planners and
<br />Board -Certified experts in the field. We have extensive experience in representing local governments in all aspects of land use,
<br />planning and zoning. Using a problem -solving and team approach, we provide advice and counsel to local governments on a
<br />range of issues from establishing and amending State -mandated comprehensive plans, small area plans, and land development
<br />regulations, to reviewing and approving applications for planned unit developments, plats, site plans and building permits.
<br />We also counsel local governments when they act as developers, either alone or in partnership with a private developer. We
<br />pride ourselves on our creativity, knowledge and persistence in ensuring that our local government clients achieve the results
<br />that they desire in developing their communities.
<br />We provide advice to local government staff such as planning directors, city managers, comprehensive planners, and building
<br />departments. We draft ordinances and resolutions, and sit with boards, councils and commissions dealing with land
<br />development matters, such as Planning and Zoning Boards, Local Planning Agencies and Zoning Boards of Adjustment. We
<br />advise these boards, individually and collectively, in their handling of public hearings, with particular attention to the
<br />quasi-judicial nature of many of the proceedings. When it is apparent that a particular regulation or application may result in a
<br />denial or a challenge, we work with our litigators and appellate lawyers to lay the groundwork for a successful outcome for the
<br />local government.
<br />In addition to the full scope of land use and zoning advice provided in the general administration of government, we also provide
<br />comprehensive help to governmental agencies undertaking public development projects, such as police and fire stations, sports
<br />arenas and stadiums, commercial parks, industrial parks, marinas and water/sewer treatment facilities. Partnering with the
<br />firm's Real Estate Group and Private Land Use and Zoning Practice Group as needed, we are uniquely qualified in handling
<br />such matters, including the most sophisticated large-scale projects and Developments of Regional Impact. We are regarded
<br />locally as well as nationally for our knowledge of growth management issues and complex zoning issues, such as "takings,"
<br />development exactions, impact fees, competitive plans, concurrency, rate of growth controls, urban growth boundaries, and
<br />other similar issues facing most governmental agencies.
<br />Not only have we spent years providing advice and counsel to local governments on land use issues, but many of us have
<br />actually served as members or chairpersons of local and State planning boards charged with reviewing and evaluating
<br />comprehensive plans and land use issues, What these real-world experiences mean is we understand government and its
<br />demands and concerns inside and out, and we use these experience to come up with unique and ingenious solutions to vexing
<br />local government issues.
<br />Our attorneys have years of experience preparing, interpreting and applying land development regulations, particularly zoning
<br />ordinances. We routinely prepare and amend land development regulations and zoning ordinances for local governments. We
<br />regularly provide advice to both the elected officials and administrative staff on the application, implementation and
<br />interpretation of local land development regulations. We have extensive experience with the regulation of First
<br />Amendment -related land uses, such as signs, religious uses, and adult uses, including defending challenges to such regulations
<br />in partnership with our Litigation Division. In relation to religious land use regulation, our experience also extends to the Federal
<br />Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
<br />Examples of our work include:
<br />Land Development Codes
<br />• Advised municipal clients on the development of and/or drafted the first land development codes following incorporation in
<br />Villages of Islamorada and Key Biscayne, Cities of Aventum and Weston, and Towns of Cutler Bay and Miami Lakes.
<br />• Revised land development codes.
<br />• Part of consulting team that rewrote the City of Dania Beach Land Development Code, to incorporate several annexation
<br />areas and implement form -based principles.
<br />• Currently working for a major city on a form -based code rewrite.
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