Messer Fort | Attorney | Land Use Focus
About The Position
Messer Fort is seeking a mid-level attorney with a focus on land use and development to serve as a city attorney for its clients. This role involves a full transactional practice, including public improvement districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, zoning and platting, development agreements, and related ordinance and code work. The firm represents cities in rapidly growing areas where land use is a primary legal concern. The attorney will manage zoning cases and development matters, negotiate with developer counsel, and advise planning and zoning commissions and city councils.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor and a Texas law license in good standing.
- Texas licensure required at hire.
- Five or more years of legal experience with substantial land use, zoning, or development work in Texas.
- Working knowledge of Chapters 211, 212, 245, and 372 of the Local Government Code.
- Experience advising or appearing before public boards, commissions, or councils.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working within a city attorney's office, a municipal law firm, or on the private-side development.
- Land use experience in a high-growth city with a high volume of cases.
- Experience drafting or overhauling a unified development code or a major zoning ordinance.
- Familiarity with annexation, ETJ release petitions, and development agreements.
- Experience with PID or TIRZ creation and administration.
- Involvement with TCAA or IMLA, or similar professional organizations.
Responsibilities
- Advising on zoning and rezoning cases under Chapter 211 of the Texas Local Government Code, including specific use permits, planned developments, and zoning ordinance amendments.
- Reviewing plats and advising on subdivision regulations under Chapter 212, including statutory shot clock requirements.
- Analyzing permit vesting and grandfathering questions under Chapter 245.
- Serving as counsel to planning and zoning commissions, boards of adjustment, and city councils, including attending meetings and advising on procedure, notice, and open government requirements.
- Drafting and negotiating development agreements, PID transactions, TIRZ transactions, annexation and ETJ matters under Chapter 43, and impact fee questions under Chapter 395.
- Drafting and updating zoning ordinances, unified development codes, sign regulations, and related regulatory ordinances.
- Providing general counsel work, including contracts, resolutions, opinions, and day-to-day advice to city staff, ensuring compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act.
Benefits
- Robust benefits package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
