PRACTICE AREAS
Whether your interest is protecting our public lands or just your neighborhood, Mountain Top Law will provide you with some of the best legal advice and counsel in Idaho. My background in science allows me to understand highly technical material, such as raw data and scientific literature, and combine that knowledge with legal principles to come up with the best legal strategy for each case.
I know that every case is unique and different, and will apply my in-depth knowledge to meet your exact needs.
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES LAW
Our Nation's natural resources are governed by a number of substantive laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, state and federal Endangered Species Acts, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Wilderness Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Both land management decisions and transportation projects can have a significant impact to these resources and negatively impact local communities. The State of Idaho also has authority to issue air quality permits under the Clean Air Act, protect our surface and groundwater resources, and control the generation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The State's permitting authority can have significant impacts to the air we breathe and the water we, aquatic species, and other wildlife rely upon.
Mountain Top Law works with non-profit and community organizations, and individuals that are interested in a variety of outcomes, including opposing harmful projects, seeking mitigation of adverse environmental impacts, and developing environmentally sustainable solutions. I can help at both the administrative level before local, state, and federal agencies, as well as in litigation in state and federal court.
LAND USE AND ZONING LAW
Poor land use planning and unplanned growth is that largest threat to a healthy, safe, and vibrant community and neighborhood. Poor planning can lead to undesirable outcomes, such as excessive traffic, reduced pedestrian safety, loss of scenic views, creation of harmful noise, odors, or other nuisances, and negative impacts to ground and surface water.
Mountain Top Law provides administrative advocacy and litigation support to clients involved in disputes over a variety of land use planning and permitting decisions. I can help you identify ways a project can be changed to resolve your concerns, or increase the probability of stopping a poorly planned project that may have impacts that can't be mitigated.
In addition to representing non-profit organizations, private individuals, or civic and community organizations in litigation, preparing comment letters for consideration by public officials, reviewing environmental documents, and testifying at public hearings, Mountain Top Law can assist in building coalitions and developing effective legal, political, and environmental strategies.
There is a rapidly growing need for affordable housing in Idaho and across the country. Unfortunately, the tremendous need to expand affordable housing can result in poorly planned projects that may cause unnecessary harm to a neighborhood. Please ask about how my initial strategy analysis can help identify the best option for addressing your concerns.
Neighborhood opposition can also present a particularly difficult problem to meeting local housing needs, even for a well-planned project. Avoiding and overcoming such opposition to your project is critical to producing desperately needed affordable homes. Mountain Top Law can help you reach out to potential neighborhood opposition and identify and address legitimate community concerns in an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative approach that can be the key for success of a new affordable housing project.
Whether you are proposing an affordable housing project, or one is being proposed in your neighborhood, I can work with you to find equitable solutions to address legitimate issues, such as traffic or project design, to find the most successful approach to both creating affordable housing and preserving a neighborhood's character and quality of life.