Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell attorneys regularly represent public and private parties in administrative proceedings and litigation regarding zoning, comprehensive planning, and other land use issues. Complex land use issues frequently become high profile, publicly controversial subjects—an additional challenge with which we assist our clients.
In front of planning boards, city councils, and other decision-making bodies, we apply our experience to develop cases that address both the political and policy needs of persuasion and the need to develop a strong record for possible future challenges. When our clients find themselves the subject of judicial action, we use our extensive knowledge of land use litigation to maximize the chances of success.
Our attorneys serve on or have served on planning and other boards in cities in which they live. They have participated in hundreds of quasi-judicial land use matters, drafted and negotiated zoning ordinances, developed and approved comprehensive and area plans, and heard zoning appeals and requests for variances. Our experience as deciding officials, proponents, and opponents in various land use matters enables us to provide the best counsel, strategy, and advocacy.
Colo. Dep’t of Transp. v. Board of Comm’rs of Douglas County, 2008 WL 1903523 (Colo. App. 2008) (represented Douglas County in defense of land use regulations)
Vacation Village v. Clark County, 244 Fed.Appx. 785 (9th Cir. 2007), cert. denied, 128 S.Ct. 2956 (2008)
Board of Comm’rs of Pitkin County v. Timroth, 87 P.3d 102 (Colo. 2004) (represented local Land Trust and other amici curiae in defense of Pitkin County open space parcels created on abandoned mining claims)
City of Golden v. Jefferson County, Case No. 03CV3045 (D. Colo. 2004) (obtained injunction against construction of HDTV tower and remand to County Commission)
Olson v. Denver, No. 03CA1896 (Colo. App. 2004) (challenge to Denver Election Commission approval of measure to repeal local land use ordinance, and injunction against placement of measure on the ballot)
City of Burbank v. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Auth., 113 Cal. App. 4th 465 (Cal. Ct. App. 2003) (represented City of Burbank in prosecuting a challenge to citizen-sponsored initiative on airport development); City of Burbank v. Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Auth., 72 Cal. App. 4th 366 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999) (represented City of Burbank in defense of authority under state law to review acquisition of property for airport expansion)
City of Des Moines v. Puget Sound Regional Council, 988 P.2d 27 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999) (represented coalition of local governments in challenge to land use approval for new runway project)
City of Cleveland, Ohio v. City of Brook Park, Ohio, 893 F.Supp. 742 (N.D. Ohio 1995) (represented City of Brook Park in defense of zoning regulations controlling airport expansion)
City of Irving v. Dallas/Fort Worth Int’l Airport Bd., 894 S.W.2d 456 (Tex. App. 1995) (represented municipalities in challenge to zoning applicable to airports)
City of Colorado Springs v. Board of County Comm’rs of County of Eagle, 895 P.2d 1105 (Colo. App. 1994), cert. denied, 116 S.Ct. 564 (1995) (represented citizens’ group in successful defense of Eagle County's denial of land use permit against regulatory takings and preemption claims)
Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport Bd. v. City of Irving, Tex., 854 S.W.2d 161 (Tex. App. 1993) (represented municipalities in challenge to zoning for airport project)
Waste Systems Corp. v. County of Martin, Minn., 985 F.2d 1381 (8th Cir. 1993) (filed amicus brief on behalf of county seeking to regulate landfill by imposing composting requirement)
County of Fairfax v. Fleet Industrial Park, Ltd., 410 S.E.2d 669 (Va. 1991) (represented landowners in challenge to county-wide downzoning ordinance)