Snyder & Snyder, LLP

:: News Room ::
Fall 2010 Firm Provides Course for Zoning and Planning Officials. Attorneys from Snyder & Snyder LLP provided an accredited continuing education program for 75 members of the Westchester County Municipal Planning Federation. The Federation consists largely of individuals who serve on zoning and planning boards throughout Westchester County. The firm hosted the event in its conference facility overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown NY, where attendees received an update on legal developments effecting zoning and land use decisions.
Summer 2009 Firm Expands Religious Land Use Practice. The firm has expanded its Religious Land Use Practice by bringing together attorneys from its real estate, zoning and land use groups to provide strategic counseling on all aspects of acquiring property and securing land use approvals for religious facilities. The goal of the Religious Land Use practice is to guide religious projects through all phases of development while side-stepping disputes and eliminating the need for litigation. Religious facilities enjoy special protection in land use proceedings under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), the landmark federal statute enacted in 2000. Relying on this statute, Snyder & Snyder, LLP recently secured zoning approvals for the construction of a house of worship in a residentially zoned area of an affluent New York suburb without the need for litigation. For more information about the Religious Land Use Group, please contact David L. Snyder at dsnyder@snyderlaw.net.
Winter 2008 Zoning Religious Facilities. Zoning challenges facing religious facilities and the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) were the focus of a presentation by firm attorneys David Snyder and Dan Nottes at a recent international conference of religious leaders held in New York City. The presentation entitled “Your Zoning Rights under Federal Land Use Laws” examined relevant cases and practical applications of RLUIPA, the landmark federal statute that protects religious land uses. The presentation was attended by religious leaders from across the country. Snyder & Snyder has significant experience in religious land use matters, and recently represented a group seeking a special use permit to construct a house of worship in a residential zone. For further information on RLUIPA and the zoning counsel provided by the firm to religious institutions, please contact David L. Snyder at dsnyder@snyderlaw.net.
Winter 2007-2008 Energy Projects: Wind, Biofuel and Power Distribution The firm is increasingly active in the development of energy projects. This winter, we secured land use approvals for the expansion of an electric sub-station in Westchester County, New York that will distribute power from a 1,080 megawatt electric generating station. The sub-station approvals included permission to do work in wetlands and on steep slopes, and were secured in under one year and without litigation. In the bio fuel arena, the firm structured a global joint venture for the development of facilities that will use plasma arc technology to convert biomass (including solid waste and agricultural material) into liquid fuel. We also currently serve as land use counsel for a windmill and wind energy project in northern New York State. Drafting documents related to the construction, financing and regulation of energy projects is an important part of our practice.
Fall 2007 Public Safety Radio. The firm was selected as lead zoning and land use counsel for the new emergency response radio network now being constructed by the City of New York. This new interoperable public safety wireless network will provide enhanced dispatch and response capabilities for emergency service agencies including the Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and various Police agencies. For further information on the firm's Public Safety Radio practice, please contact David L. Snyder at dsnyder@snyderlaw.net.
Summer 2009 Firm Expands Religious Land Use Practice. The firm has expanded its Religious Land Use Practice by bringing together attorneys from its real estate, zoning and land use groups to provide strategic counseling on all aspects of acquiring property and securing land use approvals for religious facilities. The goal of the Religious Land Use practice is to guide religious projects through all phases of development while side-stepping disputes and eliminating the need for litigation. Religious facilities enjoy special protection in land use proceedings under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), the landmark federal statute enacted in 2000. Relying on this statute, Snyder & Snyder, LLP recently secured zoning approvals for the construction of a house of worship in a residentially zoned area of an affluent New York suburb without the need for litigation. For more information about the Religious Land Use Group, please contact David L. Snyder at dsnyder@snyderlaw.net.
Winter 2006 Controlling Environmental Liability: AGL Magazine, a leading national source of information for the tower-siting community, published an article by firm attorney Keith Betensky, entitled "Controlling Environmental Liability on New Tower Sites" in its February/March 2007 issue. Mr. Betensky's article analyzed the new "All Appropriate Inquiry" rule which was promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and which provides guidance on the steps a tower developer must follow in order to qualify for various statutory exemptions from environmental liability. For a copy of the article please contact Mr. Betensky at kbetensky@snyderlaw.net.
Spring 2005 World Bank Enlists Firm: Once again, the firm was privileged to assist the World Bank in preparing the Doing Business Database. This database provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement. The Doing Business indicators are comparable across 145 economies. They indicate the regulatory costs of business and can be used to analyze specific regulations that enhance or constrain investment, productivity and growth.The firm was asked to update a review of United States laws that encourage or discourage investments in real property. Copies of the Doing business Database are available at www.doingbusiness.org/Downloads.
Autumn 2004 World Bank Enlists Firm: The World Bank asked the firm to help compile a review of United States laws that encourage or discourage investments in real property. The compendium, which the World Bank published in September 04, includes a review of similar laws in many of the world's industrialized, developing and third world countries. Copies of the Doing business Database are available at www.doingbusiness.org/Downloads. Security at Republican National Convention: During the Republican National Convention in New York City at the end of August 2004, a team of firm lawyers stood ready 24/7, to bail-out employees of a major wireless carrier, whose employees risked inadvertent arrest during the massive protest demonstrations which were anticipated.
Spring 2004 Firm Certified to Offer Leasing Course to Other Attorneys In January of 2004, after being certified by the NYS Office of Court Administration, two partners of Snyder & Snyder, LLP, Leslie J. Snyder and Seth M. Mandelbaum offered a Leasing and Land Use Seminar to other attorneys as well as our clients. The seminar focused on providing skills, knowledge and strategies, for attorneys on negotiating better deals with prospective landlords. Settlement Gains National Attention The March 15, 2004 issue of the RCR Wireless News, reported on the growing list of cases where wireless carriers had successfully litigated in order to obtain approvals to construct antenna sites to remedy gaps in coverage. A case settled by Snyder & Snyder, LLP was highlighted for special attention. That case involved a negotiated settlement, which was brought about early in the litigation as a result of the firm's compelling motion for immediate injunctive relief. Firm Secures Agreement for Antennas on Smokestack Using its battle tested strategy of an aggressive first strike, the firm prevailed in a federal litigation brought against a Westchester community which refused to permit a wireless carrier to locate antenna on an existing smokestack. By filing an Order to Show Cause with a Motion for Immediate Injunctive relief, the firm was able to secure an agreement with the defendants allowing the antennas to be installed as proposed. By going for a "first round knockout," the firm is often able to achieve the desired results with manageable costs and minimum delay.