Carson Fischer provides comprehensive services to developers and property owners regarding the development and use of real property throughout the state of Michigan. State statutes, ordinances and case law precedence have created an intricate set of hurdles and roadblocks that property owners must overcome to obtain an approved use of a proposed project. Quite often, clients find themselves caught in a municipal web of delays and confusion with no end in sight while they continue to incur costs, fees and expenses.

Our attorneys regularly appear before municipalities and their boards or commissions regarding zoning and rezoning issues, site plan approvals, planned developments, conditional rezonings, special land use permits, and variances. We have also represented our clients before state agencies and various county authorities. Our extensive experience allows us to lead clients to expeditious and successful conclusions of the approval process. Using a creative approach we are often able to add “new” value to our clients’ projects.

While our primary goal to is amicably and quickly achieve a desired result, when necessary, we have the capabilities to successfully litigate matters to enforce our clients’ rights including constitutional rights.

A few notable successes in zoning matters include:

• A $70,000,000 judgment against the city of Novi on behalf of its client in the case of Sandstone v. City of Novi, which was the largest judgment against a municipality at the time.

• Successful litigation against Northville Township on behalf of REIS Northville LLC regarding the redevelopment and rezoning of the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site.