Respected. Responsive. Results.

Zabel Schellenberg represents municipalities, real estate developers, individual property owners, citizen groups, and civic organizations throughout Connecticut in a broad range of land use, zoning, planning, and environmental matters. Our attorneys bring substantial practical experience to matters involving local land use regulation, development approvals, administrative proceedings, and related litigation.

Land use matters often require more than an understanding of statutes and regulations. They require an appreciation of how local government operates, how planning and zoning decisions are made, how development proposals move through the regulatory process, and how legal, political, and practical considerations intersect. Our multidisciplinary experience allows us to approach these matters with that broader perspective.

Government Experience. Practical Perspective.

Our team includes attorneys who have served in state and local government, represented municipalities throughout Connecticut, and worked extensively with the boards, commissions, agencies, and regional planning organizations that shape land use and development throughout the state.

Our clients benefit from the practical knowledge and insight that experience provides. We understand how municipalities operate because our attorneys have served in and represented local governments for many years. That perspective allows us to anticipate issues, understand the considerations confronting public officials and regulatory bodies, and develop strategies grounded in both the law and the realities of local decision-making.

Our real estate and development clients likewise benefit from our extensive municipal experience. We understand what municipalities and their land use agencies expect from applicants and developers and can help clients anticipate potential concerns, address issues before they become obstacles, and navigate the regulatory process efficiently and strategically.

Operating at the intersection of government, real estate, and business, we bring together the practical knowledge and legal experience necessary to guide clients through sophisticated land use and development matters.

Recognized Experience

Zabel Schellenberg is proud to have Timothy M. Herbst, Brian L. McCann, Barbara M. Schellenberg, and Christopher J. Smith recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Land Use and Zoning Law. Brian and Christopher were also recognized for Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Chris was additionally recognized for Litigation – Environmental.

The team’s recognition extends beyond Best Lawyers. Chris was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list for Land Use/Zoning from 2006 through 2025. Chris was also recognized by Chambers USA in Environment (2007–2009), Real Estate (2010–2016), and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2015–2018).‍ Barbara has been recognized by Best Lawyers for Land Use and Zoning Law since 2023.

Zabel Schellenberg was also named a Regional Tier 3 firm in New Haven for Land Use and Zoning Law in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®. This firm-level recognition complements the extensive individual recognition received by members of our land use team and reflects the breadth of experience our attorneys bring to land use, zoning, development, environmental, and related litigation matters.

Regulatory Advocacy and Land Use Litigation

On behalf of our clients, we regularly appear before state and local regulatory agencies and municipal land use bodies, including planning and zoning commissions, inland wetlands commissions, zoning boards of appeals, and other boards and agencies responsible for reviewing development and regulatory matters.

Our attorneys represent clients throughout the land use process, from early planning and strategy through applications, public hearings, administrative proceedings, and, when necessary, litigation and appeal. We understand that the decisions made during the administrative process frequently determine the strength of a client's position later, making careful preparation, development of the record, and preservation of legal issues essential from the outset.

When disputes arise, our attorneys litigate land use and environmental matters before Connecticut's courts and bring substantial trial and appellate experience to these proceedings. We also have experience with alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, where those approaches provide an effective means of resolving complex disputes.

Our appellate attorneys regularly handle land use matters before Connecticut's appellate courts, including the Connecticut Supreme Court. This combination of regulatory, trial, and appellate experience allows us to evaluate land use matters comprehensively and develop strategies with an understanding of how decisions made at one stage of a proceeding may affect the next.

A Collaborative Approach

Land use and development matters frequently involve overlapping questions of municipal law, real estate, environmental regulation, administrative law, litigation, and appellate practice. At Zabel Schellenberg, we embrace a collaborative approach that draws on the practical knowledge and experience of attorneys across these disciplines.

Whether we are advising a municipality, guiding a developer through the approval process, representing a property owner before a local commission, or litigating a contested land use matter, we work to understand our client's objectives, anticipate potential obstacles, and provide responsive, practical, and strategic counsel.

By combining extensive experience in local government with sophisticated regulatory, litigation, and appellate capabilities, Zabel Schellenberg is well-equipped to help clients navigate Connecticut's complex land use and development landscape with confidence and efficiency.

For More Information

For more information about our land use, environmental, planning and zoning services, schedule a consultation today.