Morgan Miller Blair

Morgan Miller Blair’s land use attorneys provide practical counseling to their clients on a wide range of issues related to land use and environmental law.

The firm’s land use attorneys advise clients on applicable planning, zoning and environmental laws, prepare land use applications and obtain approvals for clients, including environmental and regulatory permits, and manage and direct development projects from their inception through completion.  They often help clients formulate and implement community, government and media relation strategies, and also litigate and defend all land use and environmental challenges, including initiatives and referenda.

The firm’s clients include landowners and developers of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural property, including homebuilders; investors; commercial/shopping center owners; hotel/resort owners; wine growers, wineries and wine and beverage related businesses; citizens groups; homeowner groups; educational institutions; public agencies; telecommunications facility operators; and hospitals and other medical facilities.

The experience of Morgan Miller Blair’s land use attorneys includes handling the following representative matters:

• Planning, development agreements, rezoning, tentative maps and CEQA compliance for commercial, industrial, retail and residential developments and provide defense to any challenges.
• Converting refinery uses to accept and use ethanol and other chemicals in various cities throughout the State of California.
• Permitting, CEQA compliance and litigation for a number of winery clients in Napa County.
• Permitting, CEQA compliance and litigation for a heliport for a regional hospital expansion of hospital and medical office uses and mental health facilities.
• Due diligence regarding existing/potential land use entitlements for developers considering purchasing land.
• Representing publicly-traded home builder in a CEQA lawsuit and referendum petition initiated by labor unions seeking to force the builder to execute “project labor agreement.”
• Representation of home builder trade associations (e.g., BIA, HBA) and their members in negotiations with cities prior to enactment of, and lawsuits challenging, development impact fees, park dedication requirements, and sewer connection fees in Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Gilroy, Paso Robles, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, and Los Banos.
• Permitting and CEQA compliance for educational institutions located in the Bay Area.
• Preparing and negotiating development agreements for a variety of development projects throughout Northern and Central California.
• Establishment and representation of Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts (GHADs).
• Permitting and CEQA review of infill projects in urban areas.