At the nexus of law, public policy, finance, and environmental science.

Our Firm

Big Law Capabilities.
Boutique Firm Touch.

Since its inception in 1997, Z&S has built a reputation for insightful advocacy, proactive strategy, and exemplary work product, while providing hands-on, personal attention.

Partner photo - Zarin and Steinmetz

Broad-Based Understanding. Detailed
Know-How.

Westchester
Greater Hudson Valley
Long Island
New York City
Connecticut

“Our commitment to passionate advocacy, pragmatic thinking, and proactive collaboration not only makes our work exciting, it gets proven results.”

News
1
August
Representing the purchasers, David Steinmetz and Jacob Amir closed on our clients’ multi-million acquisition of the Kohlberg Estate in Westchester, a 200 acre residential property with a working farm, staff residences, workshop and barn, a lake and other expansive scenic features. The transaction began with extensive negotiations toward a contract of sale with multiple riders,...
30
July
The City of Yonkers Zoning Board of Appeals approved variances sought by Z&S Partners Jacob Amir and Daniel Richmond on behalf of our client, who is seeking to develop a seven-story residential building with 36 apartments, off-street parking spaces, open space, and access points from two parallel streets. With design and engineering consulting participation from...
26
June
Jacob Amir obtained a favorable decision in the Appellate Division, Second Department, which affirmed a decision after trial in the Westchester County Supreme Court. The trial Court decision granted judgment to Z&S’s clients, who are shareholders of a corporation seeking to restore its ownership interest in a large developable residential parcel. After substituting into the action...

Featured Attorneys

On November 28th, David Cooper and Brian Sinsabaugh, along with a consultant team of DTS Provident, Bowman Engineering and Lessard Architects, secured unanimous Site Plan Approval from the Port Chester Planning Commission in connection with a proposal to redevelop a 15-story apartment building. The development site includes eight adjoining lots along Broad and North Pearl Streets in the Village’s downtown core. The Applicant assembled the lots with the intent of building a premier high-rise transit-oriented development, taking advantage of the Metro-North train station across the street. After a multi-faceted entitlement process, which required review by all of the Village’s land use and legislative boards, the Applicant secured final approvals in November 2022. The approved plan includes 10,370 s.f. of ground floor commercial space, 336 residential units, residential amenity areas on the ground floor and roof, and 322 off-street parking spaces within three levels of structured parking.

 

Prior to obtaining Site Plan approval from the Planning Commission, Z&S secured zoning text and map amendments from the Village Board in 2021. The zoning text amendment created a new CD-6T district in the Village, increasing the maximum height in a small area near the train station from 12 to 15 stories. The zoning map amendment placed the project site, as well as several other adjacent properties, within the new CD-6T District. This process included working with the Village Board and its consultants to issue SEQRA findings supplementing a 2020 Findings Statement adopted in connection with the Village’s new form based code. Numerous technical assessments were required to support the supplemental findings and zoning amendments, including visual impact studies, traffic and parking studies, fiscal impact reports and conceptual site plans. The Village Board completed SEQRA and adopted the zoning amendments in the height of the Pandemic, making the process even more challenging.

 

Upon the rezoning, the Applicant’s Team pursued entitlements for the mixed-use project, starting in early 2022. Along with Site Plan Approval, the Team secured a SEQRA negative declaration from the Planning Commission after several months studying water supply, sewer capacity, parking availability and various floor plans. The Team also secured three variances from the Village Zoning Board in order to accommodate safety and vehicular accessibility upgrades. This included allowing multiple curb cuts, a wider driveway to accommodate a separate loading area, and driveway security gates at the street level.

 

Comprehensive. Credible. Connected.

We have a deep bench of attorneys who are respected for their effective oral and written advocacy, whether presenting a land use application, litigating in Court, or negotiating a transaction.