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
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,...
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...
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...