How Can a Lawyer Help with Municipal Rezoning?
There are many different reasons that a business owner or individual who owns property in Summit might want to have the zoning classification of their property amended. In order to do this, the property owner must go through a municipal rezoning process with the City of Summit Zoning Board. This process can be quite complicated, and depending on the nature of the existing property and the reason the owner wants to have it rezoned, the process may also be quite contentious. In Summit, all meetings of the Zoning Board are open to the public, and the Zoning Board also welcomes public comments — both in response to application hearings and at site presentations. If you are hoping to be able to amend the zoning classification of your property, the process can become extremely stressful.
It is important to know that a land use and zoning lawyer in Summit can assist from the very beginning, and all the way through the municipal rezoning process. How can an attorney help you with this process? Consider some of the following ways, and do not hesitate to reach out to Dempsey, Dempsey & Sheehan to learn more about how we assist property owners with zoning and other land use matters in Summit.
Determining Whether Rezoning is Necessary
A Summit land use lawyer can help you to determine whether you need to move forward with a request for municipal rezoning, or if you need to take a different — and perhaps less complex — action instead. Many property owners assume they need to rezone the property if they want to make changes to the nature of their business, or to rent out their property, but rezoning may not always be necessary. Typically, municipal rezoning must be done when you want to change the nature of the property, such as converting it from residential to commercial property or vice versa, or expanding single-family properties into multi-family homes.
Making a Rezoning Request
In Summit, any request for municipal rezoning must be made in writing to the Common Council, and specific forms must be used. You also must pay a fee and escrow deposit. Then, if the Common Council finds merit in your request, you will need to go before the Planning Board. A land use and zoning attorney in Summit can assist you with every aspect of the rezoning request and the process that follows.
Appealing If Necessary
If your request for municipal rezoning is not approved at any stage of the process, a Summit land use attorney can assist you with an appeal.
Contact Our Summit Land Use and Zoning Attorneys for Assistance
Do you need assistance with municipal rezoning? It is essential to work with one of the experienced Summit land use and zoning lawyers at Dempsey, Dempsey & Sheehan on this process. As we have noted above, the process can be complex and difficult, not to mention stressful, without assistance from a dedicated attorney. Contact our firm today to discuss the details of your project and to find out more about getting started on your municipal rezoning application in Summit.
Sources:
cityofsummit.org/313/Zoning-Board
cityofsummit.org/DocumentCenter/View/3616/Development-Regulations-Ordinance-DRO-FINAL?bidId=
