Focus Area
Development, Land Use & Zoning
Goulston & Storrs guides developers, property owners, and investors through every stage of real estate development, land use, and zoning. From site acquisition to complex entitlements and approvals, we bring unmatched local insight in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., coupled with national experience to help clients build, expand, and succeed.
At Goulston & Storrs, we help clients transform visions into built environments by navigating the complex legal, regulatory, and community frameworks that shape real estate development. Our clients include developers, institutional investors, public-private partnerships, hospitals, universities, and cultural institutions creating office towers, mixed-use communities, housing developments, sports facilities, and sustainable energy projects throughout New England, Washington, D.C., New York, and beyond.
Our Development, Land Use & Zoning team is nationally recognized for its ability to secure entitlements, negotiate with regulatory agencies, and move projects forward efficiently—even in the most rigorous approval environments. We handle every phase of the development cycle, from site acquisition and assembly to permitting, zoning, environmental review, and historic preservation. Our lawyers have deep experience with Boston’s Article 80 process, Planned Development Area (PDA) approvals, and Institutional Master Plans, as well as D.C.’s planned unit developments (PUDs), large tract reviews, and historic preservation reviews.
Clients trust us for our thorough preparation, creative problem-solving, and collaborative approach with agencies, communities, and stakeholders. Whether advancing a large-scale master plan, negotiating complex mitigation agreements, or defending a project in land use litigation, we focus on finding strategic, sustainable solutions that unlock development potential while maintaining positive relationships and public trust.
Development & Land Use Services
- Site acquisition, assembly, and entitlement strategies
- Zoning, permitting, and environmental compliance
- Historic preservation, green development, and climate resilience planning
- Development agreements, joint ventures, and public-private partnerships
- Land use litigation and dispute resolution
Regional Depth, National Reach
- Boston: Extensive experience guiding projects through Article 80 review, Institutional Master Plans, and Urban Renewal programs
- Washington, D.C.: Proven success in PUDs, campus plans, rezonings, and federal approvals (NCPC, CFA, OGB)
- New York & Beyond: Counsel on complex urban approvals and mixed-use, residential, and commercial development
Client-Centered Approach
Our team is known for its ability to balance innovation with community expectations. We work closely with regulators, neighborhood groups, and public agencies to secure approvals that stand the test of time. Clients benefit from senior-level engagement, lean staffing, and a firm-wide network that integrates zoning, financing, construction, and tax expertise to deliver efficient, forward-thinking results.
Asset Classes
Key Contacts
Deborah S. Horwitz
Director, Boston
dhorwitz@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 4123
Christian G. Regnier
Director, Boston
cregnier@goulstonstorrs.com+1 617 574 6591Related Insights
See all insightsCase Study
American Campus Communities: Collaborating to Benefit Students and Communities
October 7, 2025
Related Areas
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