Local Law Experience
The experience of the attorneys at ShapiroCroland in the area of local government law spans more than forty years. During that time, the firm and its members have acted as general and special counsel to municipalities and planning and zoning boards. Our experience is equally expansive in the representation of local government officials and boards in matters relating to their public charge.
The breadth of our experience in local government law is evidenced by the numerous published, landmark court decisions in the area in which ShapiroCroland and its members have participated, and by the personal involvement of attorneys at ShapiroCroland as members of, or counsel to, government entities.
Land Use and Zoning
ShapiroCroland has extensive experience in the most visible areas of municipal practice – land use regulation and zoning matters. Our attorneys regularly represent private clients at all levels of the land use process, including permit and plan applications before municipal administrators and zoning officers, quasi-judicial proceedings before municipal governing bodies, rent leveling, zoning and planning boards, and litigation before state and federal trial and appellate courts. We have prepared and handled land use applications for a wide variety of uses, including large residential subdivisions, commercial site plan approvals, shopping centers, industrial sites, and mixed-use developments. Our attorneys have developed valuable contacts with engineers, architects, and professional land use planners which facilitate our handling of such land use matters. We have also represented objectors who have opposed certain applications for development and have handled several cases before the courts to uphold or challenge the granting or denial of applications for development in prerogative writ cases.
Condemnation
ShapiroCroland also has extensive experience in condemnation and similar matters, with positive results for our clients. We have represented condemnees and condemnors in disputes over the valuation of property sites, including those that involve industrial uses and multiple uses. Our attorneys have made jury presentations on such matters as property valuation and ancillary environmental issues.