Our clients are just as likely to be government entities as private developers.

How do we do that? The integrity and reputation we bring to the representation of developer clients is noticed by government agencies. We maintain the respect and trust of government staff, elected officials, and interest groups. Moreover, we understand the governmental process -- how decisions are made -- and recognize the public interest considerations in land use and environmental approvals. Here is a sample of the public entities we have represented in land use matters:

• Port of Seattle as land use counsel for major projects including the Port's 18-acre Seattle central waterfront redevelopment, renovation of Shilshole Bay Marina, its 100-acre Duwamish container terminal expansion, recycled steel facilities at Terminal 105, Pier 88 for the Amgen Campus, and the Port Headquarters Building.
• Washington State Convention and Trade Center in obtaining and defending land use approvals for the original and expanded downtown Convention Center and adjacent properties.
• University of Washington in its main campus master plan process and site selection/environmental review for two branch campuses.
• Snohomish County as counsel before the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board in connection with appeals of the County's Comprehensive Plan.
• Pierce County as counsel before the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board in connection with appeals of the County's Comprehensive Plan. We advised the County in its review of an application by the Boeing Company to build an 11,000,000-square-foot plant; reviewed environmental regulations, policies, and documents; assisted the County in formulating a position and strategy regarding mitigation for the proposed project; negotiated with Boeing on behalf of the County; and represented the County before the Pierce County Hearing Examiner.
• Clallam County in Growth Management Act appeals before the Growth Management Hearings Board and in court.
• Lewis County Public Utility District as counsel in proceedings before the Shorelines Hearings Board and in connection with the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals review proceeding involving the decision by the Bonneville Power Administration to acquire power from the Cowlitz Falls Project.
• Washington State Department of Corrections with respect to site selection and expansion of correction facilities, including facilities in Monroe, Clallam Bay, McNeil Island, Airway Heights, and King County.
• City of Medina as special counsel in connection with expansion of SR 520.

Other Services.

In addition to project-specific work, we are leaders in comprehensive planning activities, local land use code development, and state and local regulatory reform efforts. Melody B. McCutcheon has been called upon by local governments to be an expert witness on land use litigation matters and also to mediate land use disputes between governmental agencies.