Land Use, Development & Annexation

Flaherty & Hood is Minnesota’s leader for cities in annexation—both in the legal and legislative arenas. We have experience handling land use, development and annexation matters and issues on behalf of local governments throughout Minnesota.

Our Land Use, Development & Annexation Services

Land Use

  • Advice and interpretation of comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision regulations
  • Zoning, subdivision and other land use ordinance drafting
  • Advice, strategy and drafting land use documents related to:
    • re-zoning
    • variances
    • conditional use permits
    • nonconforming uses
    • and other land use proceedings and appeals
  • License agreements for use of public land and encroachments on public land
  • Intergovernmental agreements and joint powers agreements

Development

  • Advice, strategy and drafting development documents, including but not limited to:
    • Development agreements
    • Stormwater facility maintenance agreements
    • Easement agreements
    • License and access agreements
    • Escrow agreements and letters of credit
  • Advice on and drafting documents (e.g., resolutions with findings) related to legal proceedings for development projects (e.g., comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, and platting procedures)

Annexation – Legal

  • Advice, strategy and drafting documents for the following proceedings:
    • Annexation by ordinance
    • Orderly annexation
    • Contested case annexation and other boundary adjustment proceedings
    • Detachment proceedings
  • Settlement negotiations, mediation and related documents
  • Motions, discovery and trial preparation
  • Trial representation and advocacy in administrative hearings, district courts, and appellate courts

Annexation – Legislative

  • Development of legislative strategy
  • Bill drafting
  • Legislative advocacy

Notable Clients

  • City of Alexandria

  • City of Becker

  • City of Bemidji

  • City of Benson

  • City of Chisago City

  • City of Fergus Falls

  • City of Forest Lake

  • City of Glenwood

  • City of Hinckley

  • City of International Falls

  • City of Janesville

  • City of La Crescent

  • City of Little Falls

  • City of Luverne

  • City of Mankato

  • City of Marshall

  • City of Monticello

  • City of Montevideo

  • City of Moorhead

  • City of Mora

  • City of Morris

  • City of Northfield

  • City of Park Rapids

  • City of Perham

  • City of Pine River

  • City of Rochester

  • City of Rushford

  • City of Staples

  • City of St. Charles

  • City of St. Cloud

  • City of Sauk Centre

  • City of Winona

  • Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC)

Land Use, Development & Annexation Lead Attorneys

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Christopher M. Hood

Shareholder Attorney

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Bradley Peterson

Shareholder Attorney

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Robert T. Scott

Shareholder Attorney

Land Use, Development & Annexation Team Members

David A. Assaf

Associate Attorney

Daniel Marx

Shareholder Attorney

Caralyn E. Brown

Associate Attorney