Planning, Permits & Appeals
Many times you may want to remodel or add rooms to and otherwise improve your home or a business premises. The reasons for the changes, alterations or new uses and for home-based offices or other business type use can cause issues. Many times you may want to turn a garage into a music or film studio. In the case of music especially, neighbors are generally not long to hold back. They may contact the city or county planning department to complain about the conversion. If this conversion was not with permits, the government involved could make the owner reverse, remove or modify the changes.
Our practice includes extensive and varied projects that involve permits. If the Planners don't issue the variance or permit, appeals may be necessary to get the job done. We take up the first appeals through the Supreme Court or from the application process if needed, working with the Architect. Permits are also granted if Reasonable Terms and Conditions are met, however many times they are not considered reasonable, such as having to reserve perking.
See the case of Lucas Valley Homeowners vs. County of Marin [233 Cal. App. 3d 130; 284 Cal. Rptr. 427; 1991 Cal. App.] where we appealed a ruling reversing the County Supervisor's issuance of a Use Permit. The law we created changed the landscape for proof of substantial evidence for requiring an Environmental Impact Survey, saving our clients from having to spend millions and from onerous requirements that were considered as required modifications.