Land Use & Municipal

Our multidisciplinary team advises businesses, farmers, farming cooperatives, nonprofits, and others on evolving land use, environmental, business, and regulatory matters surrounding the agricultural industry. We help clients endure the regulatory process, advocate for interests before local government bodies, establish new agricultural districts, apply for conservation restrictions and easements, understand property rights, meet environmental compliance, and establish business operations. Agricultural clients also turn to the Farrell Fritz team to develop proactive strategies that address opposition and concerns from neighbors and municipal authorities.

From private homeowners to national retailers and developers, Farrell Fritz represents a diverse array of land use applicants in the development approval process. Our land use and municipal attorneys:

• Appear regularly before municipal boards with applications for zoning changes, subdivisions, variances, special permits, site plans, and architectural review.
• Handle the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process required for most land use applications.
• Procure ancillary development permits and approvals, such as for municipal and on-site sewage disposal facilities.
• Leverage knowledge of the various local government agencies to navigate the development process efficiently and effectively from start to finish.

While we strive to enable clients to successfully meet goals without litigation, sometimes clients are occasionally left with no other option. Our land use attorneys have a proven track record litigating land use and zoning law issues on behalf of both applicants and local governments in federal, state, and local courts and before administrative tribunals. Farrell Fritz is the attorney-of-record in some of New York State’s leading land use cases and routinely plays a prominent role in lawsuits that interpret SEQRA.

With a long-standing tradition of government service, especially on the municipal level, our municipal law team includes current and former elected officials who provide invaluable perspectives on managing a municipality or government agency. The firm’s municipal attorneys serve as general or special counsel for numerous towns, villages and fire districts, defending lawsuits, drafting legislation, and offering advice on labor, zoning, real estate, taxation and other municipal law matters.

New York State’s commitment to renewable energy resources and an accompanying rise in demand for energy creates significant opportunities for renewable energy providers, developers, and investors. Farrell Fritz counsels developers of solar and offshore wind farms with respect to the unique aspects of renewable energy projects. Our experienced energy attorneys guide energy providers and developers through all aspects of a project, from site selection, land use and other regulatory approvals, financing, construction, and operation.

 

Our Land Use team handles provides comprehensive counsel to clients navigating issues related to waterfront property. We handle a wide range of riparian rights matters related to dock construction, building structures along waterways, and waterfront property usage disputes. We work with clients to understand and assert their riparian rights while ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations. We also advocate for our clients’ interests in resolving disputes and mitigating potential conflicts.