Land Use & Zoning

Navigating the land use, zoning and SEQRA approvals processes from project inception to shovel in the ground
Our Approach

Our attorneys spend many nights of the week advocating before planning boards, zoning boards of appeal, legislative bodies, and other governmental agencies – or representing these boards as Special Counsel on complex development projects. That means leading our clients’ development teams, working with municipal officials and staff, providing strategic advice and substantive guidance, compiling a complete administrative record, organizing public outreach, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

And because many of the attorneys in our land use and zoning practice are also litigators, we position our clients for success if their application ends up in court. The attorney who fought in the trenches during the review process will bring a comprehensive knowledge of the administrative record when defending (or challenging) municipal determinations.

What We Do

Zarin & Steinmetz successfully guides clients through federal, state and local zoning, land use and environmental regulatory processes, including:

  • Site plan, special permit, and subdivision applications
  • Environmental impact review under SEQRA
  • Comprehensive plan & zoning text/map amendments
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Wetlands, steep slopes, floodplain, and other sensitive feature permits
  • Area and use variances
  • Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
  • Padavan Law and Fair Housing Act (FHA) compliance
  • County Planning review under New York General Municipal Law
  • Administrative Law
  • SHPO review/historic preservation
  • Green building/LEED certification
Recent News
Zarin & Steinmetz is pleased to announce that the firm successfully moved to dismiss several claims in an Article 78 proceeding brought against private and municipal respondents, which sought to stop the redevelopment of a prominent site in the Town of Fishkill. The case stems from the firm’s representation of a Fishkill developer in seeking...
We are pleased to share that Lee Lefkowitz and Brian Sinsabaugh successfully represented CPD NY Energy Corp. in an Article 78 proceeding challenging the actions of the City of Yonkers in denying a special permit that would allow a service station to operate 24 hours. Hon. Maurice Dean Williams of the Westchester County Supreme Court...
Jody Cross and Aaron Warner successfully secured a court order to stop a building in Wesley Hills from being illegally used as a dormitory. The Village of Wesley Hills had filed a lawsuit to enforce its zoning laws and prevent the unsafe operation of a single-family home as a dormitory. Jody and Aaron’s efforts resulted...