Why Zabel Schellenberg? Insight and practical experience.

We represent municipalities, real estate developers, individual property owners, citizen groups, and civic organizations throughout Connecticut in a broad range of land use, zoning, and environmental matters. Zabel Schellenberg has significant practical experience with land use issues. Our team includes lawyers who have served in state and local government, those who have represented a myriad of municipalities and those with an acute familiarity with regional planning organizations and how they interface with both local government and private development. Our clients benefit greatly from the knowledge and insight our government service provides, and it is this unique perspective that sets us apart from other municipal law firms. We know how to navigate the complexities of local government precisely because we have served in and represented local governments for so many years.

Our real estate developer clients value our decades of experience representing municipalities throughout Connecticut. We know what towns are looking for and expecting from developers and can anticipate potential issues, avoid surprises, and guide our clients through the regulatory process. At Zabel Schellenberg we embrace a collaborative approach, maximizing the practical knowledge and local government experience of each of our seasoned attorneys to serve clients with responsiveness, efficiency, and confidence. Operating at the intersection of government and business, we deliver the practical wisdom and sound counsel our clients need to succeed.

On behalf of our clients, we appear regularly before state and local regulatory agencies, including planning and zoning commissions, inland wetlands commissions, and zoning boards of appeals. We litigate land use and environmental matters in court proceedings and are well-known and respected by judges throughout the State of Connecticut. In addition to being skilled trial lawyers, we are experienced in alternate dispute resolution methods such as mediation and arbitration. We routinely appear before the Connecticut Appellate and the Supreme Court on land use issues.

Land Use / Environmental Law Services

Our land use/environmental services include:

Land Use and Environmental Proceedings

We appear regularly before planning and zoning commissions, inland wetlands commissions, zoning boards of appeals, and other administrative agencies throughout the State of Connecticut. We offer our clients a depth and breadth of experience and valuable practical knowledge of the local conditions that may influence the outcomes of permit applications and appeals.

Zoning and Wetlands Enforcement Proceedings

We represent property owners, neighborhood groups, and municipalities in administrative appeals, including zoning and wetlands enforcement proceedings. We assist our clients in each step of the process, from the receipt of a notice of violation or cease and desist order, through any ensuing investigations or inspections, and at meetings or public hearings before the various commissions. Our experienced litigators and appellate practitioners have prevailed on numerous administrative appeals before the Connecticut Superior, Appellate and Supreme Courts.

Conservation Proceedings

We represent developers before local conservation boards and departments in obtaining permit approvals. Our practical knowledge and significant experience navigating the complexities of environmental regulations and ordinances allows us to provide focused, responsive, forward-thinking counsel to our clients.

Land Use Proceedings Challenging State Action

We have represented clients challenging controversial administrative decisions. Recently, we successfully represented clients in eastern Connecticut who opposed placement of the state police gun range in Pachaug State Forest. Our individual landowner and citizen group clients greatly benefit from the insight, local knowledge, and community relationships that our municipal law and local government experience provides.

Historic Districts

We assist developers navigating building code provisions relating to historic districts and historic properties. Our considerable experience in this area allows us to provide thoughtful, innovative, and practical solutions, while coordinating seamlessly with the relevant agencies, including the Department of Economic and Community Development and the local planning and zoning commissions.

Developer Applications for Federal Funding

We assist real estate developers engaged in public-private partnerships. Zabel Schellenberg attorneys have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the specific tax structure requirements, and have significant experience with federal grant opportunities, including the Economic Development Administration grant program, and Assisted Housing Stability and Energy and Green Retrofit Investments Program.

Intervenor Actions

We represent municipalities, developers, and individual landowners in intervenor proceedings. We bring our considerable experience in local government, in-depth knowledge of Connecticut’s environmental laws and regulations, and our firm’s comprehensive and innovative approach, to each land use matter we handle.

Real Estate Transactions/Development

Why Zabel Schellenberg? Comprehensive, strategic representation.

We represent businesses and individuals in a wide range of real estate matters, including assisting developers engaged in public-private partnerships and managing commercial and residential real estate transactions. At Zabel Schellenberg, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality, innovative legal services in a more efficient, client-focused, and responsive manner. Our developer clients highly value the strategic insight the firm’s significant experience serving in and representing municipalities throughout Connecticut provides. The reputation we have built over the course of several decades of working closely with local governments has also given us access to an extensive network of resources, relationships, and community connections, all of which we are able to bring to bear on each transaction we handle. The legal acumen and practical experience of our real estate practice, combined with our accessibility and responsiveness, makes Zabel Schellenberg a unique practice for today’s rapidly changing real estate markets.

As experienced municipal lawyers, we are well-versed in the myriad legal issues and challenges that can arise for developers over the course of a public-private partnership, including matters relating to construction law, economic development, and environmental law. Each of our attorneys has particular areas or practice or focus, including land use and zoning, litigation, appeals, and labor and employment, allowing us to offer our clients a multidisciplinary approach to real estate matters and to become trusted advisors as developers navigate their partnerships with public entities.

Our individual clients also rely on the depth and breadth of our experience when, for example, a real estate closing is necessary in connection with a complicated probate administration. Rather than having to retain separate counsel to handle the transaction, likely resulting in delay, as well as added cost and stress, our real estate attorneys can manage the closing. Our commitment to providing comprehensive representation with personalized attention gives our individual clients confidence and peace of mind that Zabel Schellenberg can address their every legal need with service that is both sophisticated and efficient.

Real Estate/Development Services

Assisting Developers Engaged in Public-Private Partnerships

We represent real estate developers in all aspects of their participation in a municipal project, including appearing on their behalf before local land use boards, preparing applications for federal funding, and negotiating and drafting the necessary agreements to operate a public project. Our considerable practical experience, gained from years spent serving in and representing local governments, gives us valuable insight into what municipalities are looking for and expecting from businesses seeking to acquire and develop municipal property. This allows us to anticipate potential issues and challenges before they arise and provide sound counsel throughout every step of what is often a complex process.

Our dynamic and comprehensive practice gives our clients easy access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise in a diverse range of legal areas that may come into play over the course of a public-private partnership, including land use and environmental, tax law, litigation, and appeals.

Commercial and Residential Real Estate Closings

Closing a real estate deal involves many moving parts, requiring coordination, attention to detail, and communication among a variety of entities. From reviewing title and surveys, to conducting due diligence, and negotiating and drafting the necessary documents, Zabel Schellenberg attorneys are able to manage both residential and commercial closings with efficiency, while keeping our clients well-informed during each and every step of the process.

Real Estate Litigation

Should a dispute arise over the course of a public-private partnership, our experienced litigators stand ready to assist. Whether the issue involves breach of contract, title issues, boundary dispute, zoning violations, or a construction law violation, we are well-equipped to advocate on behalf of our clients. Zabel Schellenberg attorneys appear regularly in the trial and appellate courts throughout Connecticut and are also experienced at resolving real estate disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation.

With experienced, knowledgeable, well-respected litigators immediately available, we are able to provide seamless representation to our clients, avoiding the unnecessary delay and complication that often results from bringing in outside counsel to handle the matter. Litigation is stressful enough for our clients, they do not need the additional challenge of having to find additional attorneys to bring up to speed, develop a rapport with, and, most important, trust.

As experienced practitioners with depth and breadth of knowledge across the spectrum of legal services, our real estate practice is dedicated to meeting our clients’ every legal need, becoming trusted advisors and building long-term relationships with our private developer clients as they navigate their public-private partnerships and beyond.

For More Information

For more information on our Connecticut real estate/development services, we welcome you to contact us.

Attorneys: Brian L McCann