The Developer’s Playbook for Negotiating Land Deals with Landlords and Tenants ASK: I’m negotiating a land deal and trying to balance what the landlord wants with what my tenant needs. How do I make sure everyone wins? ANSWER: Most deals fall apart not because the site is wrong, but because expectations aren’t aligned. In every […]

How to Build Political and Staff Support Before Your First Hearing ASK: We’ve submitted our plans and are waiting for the hearing, how can we make sure it goes well? ANSWER: Public hearings can make or break your project. By the time you’re on the agenda, decisions are largely shaped by what’s already happened behind […]

Why Aligning with the General Plan Is Your Secret Weapon in Approvals ASK: What’s the General Plan, and why does everyone keep telling me to check it before I buy land? ANSWER: The General Plan is the city’s long-term roadmap for growth. It dictates how land can be used, what kinds of development the city […]

How Pre-Application Meetings Can Save Months in Entitlements ASK: Are pre-application meetings really worth it or just another layer of unnecessary red tape? ANSWER: If you think pre-application meetings slow things down, think again. They’re one of the smartest time investments you can make in the entitlement process. A pre-application meeting is your chance to […]

Community Buy-In: Turning NIMBYs (not in my backyard) Into Project Advocates ASK: How do I deal with community opposition that could kill my project even after planning staff is on board? ANSWER: The finish line for some entitlements are public hearings. Frequently we’ve seen projects where we have staff’s full support but it’s actually the […]