Municipal law and real estate development
Legal counsel for projects that involve local government
When a project needs a zoning approval, a TIF agreement, or a working relationship with a village, county or state agency, the legal work shapes the business result. Wegman Hessler helps developers, investors and business owners get it right.
Client project: MotorCoach Resort Lake Erie ShoresWhat does a municipal law attorney do for a business?
A municipal law attorney helps a business work through the local rules and public agencies that affect a project. That includes zoning and land use approvals, tax increment financing (TIF) agreements, property valuation and tax disputes, and negotiations with villages, townships, counties and state boards. For developers and investors, this work often decides whether a project stays on schedule and on budget.
What we handle
Three ways municipal matters can impact a deal
Zoning and land use
Zoning approvals, variances, site plans and permits for new construction and redevelopment, plus HOA structure and governing documents for planned communities.
Public finance and TIF
Negotiating and enforcing TIF agreements, protecting promised infrastructure reimbursements, and resolving valuation and tax disputes.
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Economic development and local government
Representing businesses with villages, townships, counties and state agencies on incentives, expansions and relocations.
“I’ve never had a law firm that could connect all the dots, and that’s why I turned all my business over to them.” Tim McCarthy · CEO, MotorCoach Resort Lake Erie Shores
Case study
Turning around a struggling resort development
In 2019, Tim McCarthy invested in a 97-lot luxury motorcoach resort on the Lake Erie shore. Over the next few years the project faced:
- an operating partner who could not deliver
- a homeowner revolt
- a sales partner who stopped performing
- a minority partner looking for an exit
It also ran into a tax problem. A county auditor withheld TIF reimbursements meant to repay a $1 million sewer infrastructure investment and placed an undeveloped phase on the tax rolls at full value.
Wegman Hessler restructured the ownership, partnership agreements and HOA. We also worked directly with the village, the county auditor and state tax authorities in Columbus to resolve the tax issues. Today the resort has a working HOA, a new outside investor, and a clear path on taxes and finances.
Tim McCarthy
CEO, MotorCoach Resort Lake Erie Shores
Results depend on the facts of each matter. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Business law for business leaders
The business side of every project
Development rarely involves one legal issue. Zoning and TIF questions sit alongside partner agreements, contracts, real estate transactions and the occasional dispute when a partner or vendor does not perform. Our attorneys handle all of it, so nothing falls between firms.
Who we work with
- Real estate developers and investors taking on new construction, redevelopment and planned communities
- Business owners expanding, relocating or building new facilities
- Regional leaders and community organizations working on local development
Topics we can help with
Pick a topic and schedule time with us
Strategic lawyering
Legal work should show a business return
We approach legal problems as business problems. For clients with ongoing engagements, we can track legal work against business outcomes, so you can see the value delivered. It's not just about a transaction. It's about your legacy and your life.
Questions we hear
Municipal law FAQs
What is tax increment financing (TIF) in Ohio?
TIF is a public finance tool. It lets a city, village, township or county use the increase in property value from a new development to pay for public infrastructure that supports it, such as roads, water lines or sewer lines. A TIF agreement spells out who pays for the improvements and how those costs are reimbursed over time.
What happens if a county does not follow a TIF agreement?
It happens more often than developers expect. Disputes can involve:
- how service payments are distributed
- how property is valued
- when new phases go on the tax rolls
Many of these issues can be resolved by working directly with the county auditor, the local government and, when needed, state tax authorities before they turn into litigation.
When should a developer bring in a municipal law attorney?
Before buying land or signing development agreements. Zoning, incentives and infrastructure commitments shape what a site can support and what it will cost. Early advice usually costs less than fixing a problem after approvals or agreements are in place.
Can you help with HOA problems in a planned community?
Yes. We review and rewrite governing documents and rules, set up HOA structures that work for owners and developers, and help resolve disputes between developers and homeowners.
Does Wegman Hessler only handle municipal law?
No. Wegman Hessler is a full-service business law firm. Municipal and land use work often connects to partnership agreements, contracts, real estate transactions, litigation and estate planning, and our attorneys work across all of those areas.
Where is Wegman Hessler located?
Wegman Hessler is a Cleveland law firm. Our offices are located on Cleveland's west side, in Westlake, and we serve clients throughout Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Let’s talk about your next project
Tell us about the project and the local issues involved. We will tell you plainly how we can help.
