Spotlight on: THE ENTITLEMENT PROCESS

Land entitlement is the legal process of obtaining approvals for your development plans. This process can be lengthy, complicated, and at times, expensive. But it’s a vital part of the development phase because it helps determine what can and can’t be done with the property. Without the appropriate entitlements, you can’t legally move forward with your project. Most development projects will go through several different aspects of the entitlement process, and some may also be required to be put through multiple public hearings for approval. You can expect the following to occur when you embark on the entitlement process: • Commercial development will require approval from the Planning Department Review Division or the Development Review Board. Your development team will create a land use pre-application, which will comply with local codes. • A meeting date will be scheduled where you and your team will meet with the Planning Department to review your proposed project. • Once your site has been approved, you will then need to have your design approved and obtain your master use permits. This is where your architect will come in. • A neighborhood hearing will likely be held. You may be asked to send out written notices or to post information on the city’s website. The city will also submit notices to neighbors. An open house meeting is typically held. • If your property contains wetlands, you will need to acquire special documentation that details whether the Wetlands Act applies to your land or not. Understandably, many find this process cumbersome to navigate. Our Land Advisory Group members are experts in all phases of land development, in any geography. For more information on this or general land inquiries, please visit www.richardmrealestate.com

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