Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S.

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Land Use And Environmental Law Representation For Corporations And Municipalities

At Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S., we are connected to the environment. The practice of land use law is guided not only by what you know but also by whom you know. Our extensive experience in the field translates into an astute technical knowledge of applicable codes and how they have been historically interpreted and applied. Our attorneys place equal importance on their understanding of and strong relationships with regulatory officials and the elected policymakers they serve.

Our attorneys represent both public and private sector clients, including property owners, developers, counties and municipalities. We help individuals and organizations negotiate the nuanced framework associated with land use and environmental law.

We are committed to leading you along the most direct route to obtaining the permits needed to move your projects forward.

Areas Of Emphasis

Our services address the following topics of vital interest to our private, corporate and municipal clients:

  • Land use entitlements
  • Master-planned developments
  • Impact and mitigation fees
  • Conditional use permits, variances and nonconforming uses
  • Environmental transactions
  • Subdivisions and annexations
  • State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance
  • Growth Management Act (GMA) compliance and appeals
  • Comprehensive planning and zoning
  • Environmental impact statements
  • Forest practices
  • Sand, gravel and rock mining
  • Shoreline Management Act
  • Wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas
  • Endangered Species Act
  • Litigation and settlements

With a thorough review of your aspirations, we will pinpoint and focus on those areas that require attention to prevent obstacles to your land use plans.

Questions We Often Receive, With Our Answers

We invite you to contact us with your questions such as the following. Depending on the details of your land use intentions, our lawyers will be able to personalize answers to suit your needs.

What government agency should we approach or what laws should we consider before applying for permits to expand our business or city operations?

Commercial entities and municipalities should consider environmental law compliance through the lenses of the Growth Management Act (1990) and the State Environmental Policy Review (SEPA) process. Both sets of guidelines in Washington emphasize the importance of working with city, county and, when applicable, tribal governments to avoid or mitigate damage to critical environmental features such as bodies of water and wildlife habitats when planning and executing construction projects.

State laws speak of “environmentally critical areas.” What do these include, and what do we need to know about them while planning to expand facilities?

Environmentally critical areas include wetlands, streams and wildlife habitats. State laws direct businesses and government bodies to avoid disturbing such areas for building projects or, if altering them is unavoidable, to mitigate any damage done to these areas.

Our business intends to build a new manufacturing facility that will add jobs and commerce to our region. How can we fulfill the requirement of an EIS in compliance with all local, state and federal regulations?

The EIS (environmental impact statement) process should include a “scoping” phase, inviting participation by the public and tribal, local, state and federal government bodies. Next, your business should draft an EIS that balances discussion of your proposal with reasonable alternatives and applies findings from studies or other relevant information. After the drafting of your EIS, you should allow members of the public as well as tribal and government agencies to give further input.

Adhering To Local, State And Federal Laws And Regulations In Land Use

As the questions and answers above illustrate, there are many potential pitfalls along the way to completion of a project involving land use. To use your organization’s time and resources efficiently, work closely with a land use and environmental law attorney who can steer you in the right direction every step of the way.

At Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S., we cultivate trusting attorney-client relationships. From this solid ground, we enable many clients to pursue their land use objectives for the betterment of their enterprises and communities in full compliance with local, state, federal and tribal laws.

To schedule a consultation, call 509-662-3685 or get in touch by email. From law offices in Wenatchee, we serve clients throughout the state of Washington. Our firm also includes lawyers who are licensed to practice in Oregon and California.