Sandy Skaggs has represented clients in a wide variety of corporate, litigation and real estate matters. For the past 30 years, his practice has focused primarily on real estate development and local government law as well as related litigation. Currently, his practice is limited to existing clients and consultations with other lawyers on significant legal and strategic issues.
These issues arise in the context of applications to local government entities for entitlements to develop. Those entities include city councils, boards of supervisors, LAFCOs, planning commissions and similar bodies. The issues and consultations frequently relate to the negotiation of statutory development agreements and conditions of approval, with the objective of limiting exactions to those which are constitutionally permissible. The consultations often include review of compliance with procedural and environmental laws, primarily the California Environmental Quality Act and Planning and Zoning Laws, to reduce the possibility of successful challenges to approvals and entitlements.
Sandy is chair of the board of Episcopal Senior Communities, a provider of life care services and affordable housing for seniors. He also serves on the Governing Committee of CEB, a provider of Continuing Legal Education to California lawyers. He previously served, by gubernatorial appointment, for 11 years on the California Law Revision Commission. Sandy served for 18 years as an elected official, including terms as mayor of the city of Walnut Creek and president of the board of directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District. He has also served as a director of a health system, including three hospitals and more than 700 physicians, two national banks and a closely held real estate investment corporation.
Sandy has lectured and written about the Subdivision Map Act, CEQA, takings, eminent domain, real property and land use law for the University of California Extension, ALI-ABA, Continuing Education of the Bar, Home Builders Association and Urban Land Institute.
