Karla L. Chaffee

Karla Chaffee focuses her practice on land use permitting and real estate due diligence. She helps her clients maximize efficiency by charting a coordinated permitting strategy through a deal’s lifecycle.

My focusLand Use Permitting

I provide guidance to clients seeking zoning approvals and other development entitlements. I lay the groundwork for successful projects by working with clients, planning staff, and elected and appointed officials to navigate local, state, and federal permitting. My experience facilitates real estate objectives for clients and helps to build public benefits for all involved in the development process. I also serve on my local zoning board of appeals.

Land Use Transactional

I perform due diligence work for nation-wide real estate transactions prior to acquisition and financing. I also assess environmental risk of properties and determine what mitigation measures are needed to help clients make the best business decisions and avoid potential liability. Finding appropriate mitigation measures has given me the opportunity to negotiate the terms of purchase and sale agreements, liability transfer documents, and insurance policies. I work with sellers, buyers, and lenders to ensure a successful transaction.

Looking ahead

The prevalence of online retail has changed our day-to-day lives in many ways. It influences land use patterns and transforms the market for warehouse and industrial space across the country. The opportunities for development in these sectors vary significantly by region and clients will need to understand how the prevalence of e-commerce has impacted local market and regulatory conditions.

Locally, the lack of adequate housing supply in Massachusetts is at crisis levels. Recent changes to the Massachusetts Zoning Enabling Act have lowered the voting thresholds for projects and zoning amendments that encourage market-rate and affordable housing development. These changes have given developers and housing advocates a new opportunity to work with community leaders to produce sorely needed housing stock.