WSSI recently created a 50% increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the landowner of an industrial site near Dulles Airport. A potential buyer had planned to develop 340,000 square feet of warehouse and flex/office space on the site, but was advised (by others) that the 3+ acres of wetland impacts would be impossible to permit and that wetland impacts had to be reduced, so only 230,000 square feet could be developed. Instead of accepting this assessment of the property’s development capacity and reduced land value, the landowner’s land use attorney brought WSSI into the project.

WSSI staff quickly identified the special circumstances of this site and ownership history that created a path forward to increase the development yield back to 340,000 square feet in an economically advantageous manner. Our experience and first-hand knowledge of the evolution of the regulations allowed WSSI staff to craft an Individual Permit application, and ultimately procure a permit for the original impact plan, thereby improving the value of the land. In addition, WSSI was able to obtain Individual Permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality just 5 months after filing the application. Our team has the rare benefit of having worked in the industry for the past 35 years, and the combination of highly trained, energetic, and dedicated staff working with WSSI’s “gray hairs,” who have experienced the development of the wetland regulatory programs first-hand, allowed us to develop and effectively implement a tailored strategy that culminated in a winning scenario and a very happy client.

For more information about permitting, please contact Doug Chapin.