How to Appeal a Planning Decision Without Burning Political Capital ASK: Our project was denied or heavily conditioned. Should we appeal? ANSWER: Appeals are one of the most misunderstood tools in development. They are neither inherently aggressive nor inherently protective. Their impact depends entirely on how they are used. I have worked on appeals that […]

Why Conditional Use Permits Are Often Harder Than Rezoning ASK: Why does a Conditional Use Permit feel more difficult than changing zoning? ANSWER: Conditional Use Permits (CUP) place a project under a microscope. They are site-specific, discretionary approvals that rely heavily on judgment. Rezoning asks whether a use belongs in an area. A Conditional Use […]

When a “Minor” Zoning Issue Becomes a Major Deal Risk ASK: The zoning issue seems small. Do we really need to worry about it? ANSWER: Zoning issues are rarely isolated. Even small deviations have consequences that ripple through a project. Setbacks, parking counts, height limits, use definitions, and access requirements are often described as minor […]

How to Navigate Conflicting City Department Comments Without Losing Months ASK: Fire requires one solution. Engineering requires another. How do we resolve conflicting comments without stalling the project? ANSWER: Conflicting department comments are not an exception in development. They are the norm. What surprises many developers is that no one inside the city is responsible […]

What Happens After Planning Commission Approval? A Step Most Developers Underestimate ASK: We received Planning Commission approval. Why does it still feel like the project could fall apart? ANSWER: Planning Commission approval feels decisive. Votes are cast. Motions pass. Conditions are read into the record. Teams breathe for the first time in months. And then […]