Land Use

On Solid Ground 
Manatt’s Land Use group takes a strategic approach to the entitlement, development, and utilization of land and natural resources. Our team of land use attorneys are experienced, effective and efficient in their delivery of legal services and work directly with our clients to solve their most complex land use problems. Our land use group is an experienced, boutique practice that is backed by the industry knowledge of the firm’s Real Estate, Environmental, Government, and Litigation teams allowing us to advise clients in regard to the full range of land use, planning, zoning and environmental matters affecting real property development.

Our land use lawyers work with developers, property owners, builders, investors, contractors, public agencies and non-profits to guide complex and sensitive projects through an increasingly intricate regulatory maze, and help financial institutions evaluate distressed asset portfolios and re-entitle foreclosed property. We also work with clients to devise strategies that maintain and maximize the value of existing land and entitlements to meet their current business objectives while laying the groundwork for future success.

Strong Relationships are Critical 
The firm’s Land Use practice is strengthened by the ties we maintain with regulators and key contacts in federal, state and local government. Many of our lawyers are former government attorneys, lobbyists, developers and/or members of local planning commissions. We understand the land use and development business from all sides of the table, and bring our experience to work in advising clients and advocating on their behalf. We have received frequent accolades for our sophisticated, results-driven counsel, including listings in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Most Influential Women in Real Estate and The Legal 500.

Areas of substantive legal focus 

• Affordable Housing
• CEQA and NEPA Compliance
• Climate Change
• Coastal Act Compliance
• Inverse Condemnation
• Due Diligence
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation
• Endangered Species
• Development Entitlements
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Infrastructure Financing and Permitting
• Redevelopment
• School Mitigation and Financing
• Water Quality
• Wetland Permitting 

Development Areas

• Hotels, Resorts and Golf Courses
• Entertainment Venues
• Residential Subdivisions
• Urban Infill and Mixed Use Development
• Multi-Family Housing
• Transit and Rail Facilities
• Wineries and Vineyards
• Retail Centers
• Commercial/Industrial Centers
• Educational Institutions

Solid Experience - From the Ground Up

• Lowe Enterprises, Terranea. We worked with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the California Coastal Commission to secure development approvals, including coordinating CEQA compliance and Endangered Species Act compliance; managed visitor services requirements; and devised a structure for partial ownership facilities that was approved by the California Department of Real Estate for this 580-room, luxury hotel, which opened in June 2009 in Rancho Palos Verdes on the former Marineland site on the Southern California coast. 
• Yamagiwa v. City of Half Moon Bay. When the city stopped development of homes on this scenic property because “wetlands” had formed, it looked like the project was doomed. Manatt’s land use litigators were able to prove to the court that the wetlands were caused by trapped water from a storm drain improperly built by the city itself, and the case ultimately settled for $18 million (payment of the full judgment, $36.8 million, would have bankrupted the city). 
• St. Regis Hotel site, Century City. Manatt developed the land use strategy, obtained all land use entitlements, coordinated CEQA compliance and environmental review, and managed the subdivision map process on behalf of The Related Companies for 147 luxury condominiums with approximately 50,000 square feet of commercial amenities. 
• Lytle Creek Development, Lytle Creek North. We worked with the County of San Bernardino to prepare the Environmental Impact Report for this 677-acre master planned community consisting of 2,466 residential units, commercial and industrial development; assisted in litigation defense relating to three CEQA challenges brought by environmental organizations; and helped guide the client through the Section 404 Clean Water Act, Section 7 Endangered Species Act and NEPA compliance process. 
• Casden Properties, Palazzo Westwood Village. Working closely with the City of Los Angeles and the State Office of Historic Preservation, we helped Casden obtain land use entitlements approval for this 528,000 square foot, mixed-use project, including a 350-unit residential apartment community and 115,000 square feet of retail space; coordinated CEQA compliance; developed and implemented the community relations strategy; managed traffic and historical preservation analyses; prepared and processed General Plan and Westwood Village Specific Plan amendments; and obtained City Council approval.