Preparing for Town Hall, Part 2: Building the Right Development Team

A development project doesn’t move forward on plans alone. Behind every proposal is a team of attorneys, engineers, architects, consultants, and community stakeholders whose expertise and perspectives can influence what ultimately gets built.

In Part 2 of our Preparing for Town Hall series, Farrell Fritz partner Rachel Scelfo joins Lee Peretz to explore why the right people and the right conversations matter early in the land use and municipal approval process.

From assembling a development team to addressing traffic, drainage, neighborhood character, and community concerns, Rachel discusses how developers can anticipate potential obstacles, respond to feedback, and approach municipal relationships with a collaborative mindset.

What’s covered in this episode: 

• Which professionals developers should consult before their first municipal meeting
• Why land use attorneys, civil engineers, and architects play important roles in early feasibility discussions
• When to involve traffic engineers, environmental consultants, surveyors, and other specialists
• How municipalities evaluate development impacts beyond the proposed building itself
• Why parking, stormwater management, noise, lighting, and neighborhood character matter
• How conversations with civic associations, neighboring property owners, and local organizations can help address concerns
• Why listening to community feedback is an ongoing part of the development process

Having a Legal State of Mind:

Successful development requires more than assembling experts who can execute a plan. It requires people who can anticipate challenges, ask the right questions, and understand the interests of everyone involved.

A productive relationship with a municipality isn’t built on a single presentation. It’s built through ongoing communication, responsiveness, and a willingness to consider how a project can work for both the developer and the surrounding community.

Meet Rachel Scelfo

Rachel Scelfo is a land use, municipal, and zoning attorney whose experience spans both private practice and municipal government. She previously served as counsel to the Town of Babylon’s Zoning Board and as the Town’s Planning Commissioner, giving her firsthand experience with the processes and considerations that shape local development decisions.

Continue the Series: 

If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1: Before You Meet with the Municipality on Apple or Spotify

In the final installment of Preparing for Town Hall, Rachel discusses common mistakes, approval timelines, and misconceptions that can complicate a development project. Listen now on Apple or Spotify.