Land Use & Environmental Mediation Group

This group is for attorneys, hearing examiners, elected officials, planners, mediators and other professionals interested in improving the use of mediation in land use matters.

WSBA ADR/ELUL Land Use & Environmental Mediation Committee

Creation. The WSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Environmental and Land Use Law (ELUL) Sections have approved the formation of a Land Use Mediation Standing Committee to further pursue the objectives of the Land Use Mediation Focus Group. 

Composition.  The members of the committee are Jay Derr, Courtney Kaylor, Aaron Laing, Linda Larson, Alison Moss, Claudia Newman, Jim Pearman, Stacey Saunders, David Spohr and Mike Walter.

Mission.  The Land Use and Environmental Mediation Committee, composed of professionals versed in dispute resolution and land use, natural resource and environmental issues, strives to promote more efficient, effective and enduring resolutions in our arenas through the use of mediation and related conflict resolution techniques.  Activities of the LUEM Committee include:

• Research, collect and serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources on land use, natural resource and environmental mediation.
• Make presentations and publish articles that educate attorneys, decision makers, mediators and other interested professionals about land use, natural resource and environmental mediation. 
• Review and provide technical assistance or comment on the structure of programs that provide land use, natural resource or environmental mediation services or legislative action relating to mediation, consistent with WSBA policy regarding legislative activity.
• Solicit opportunities for and implement pilot projects for which land use, natural resource or environmental mediation is provided for educational purposes by committee members in their individual capacities.

Pilot Project

The LUEM Committee is conducting a pilot project in which mediation is provided on a pro bono by an experienced mediator and land use professional. The LUEM Committee conducts intake and exit interviews to gather information to be used for educational purposes.  To date, the pilot project has conducted one mediation, which resulted in settlement (SeattleTimesArticle.pdf).  If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Claudia Newman at newman@bnd-law.com.

Land Use Mediation Focus Group

The Land Use Mediation Focus Group began started as one of several focus/listening groups convened as a joint project of the WSBA ADR and KCBA ADR and CL Sections.  The purpose of the group was to discuss the status of mediation in land use matters, the reasons for this status, and whether and how the use of mediation in land use can be improved.  The group met for six months in 2010.  At the conclusion of this process, the group issued a summary and recommendations, posted here: Focus Group Summary Phase I Final.pdf. The group met for six additional months in 2011.  Subsequently, the Land Use and Environmental Mediation Committee was formed.  The group resumed monthly meetings to discuss timely mediation topics in 2012.  Anyone interested in participating in the group should contact Aaron Laing at alaing@schwabe.com. 

Land Use Mediators

The Land Use Mediation Focus Group maintains a list of mediators who have land use/environmental and mediation expertise and are available to provide mediation services.   The list is posted here:  Land%20Use%20Mediators%204-3-12.pdf.  If you are interested in finding a land use mediator, you may use this list as a resource.  This list of land use mediators is provided for informational purposes only.  The WSBA, KCBA, Land Use and Environmental Mediation Committee, Focus Group, and individual members of these entities do not make any representations or warranties regarding the qualifications of the mediators on this list or satisfaction with their services.

If you have land use/environmental and mediation expertise and wish to offer mediation services, please provide a brief description of your qualifications and contact information to Alison Moss at amoss@dearbornmoss.com for inclusion on the list of mediators maintained by the Land Use and Environmental Mediation Committee.  If you are willing to provide mediation services on a reduced fee or pro bono basis, please indicate this in your description.   See this document for a summary of qualifications for inclusion on this list: Mediator%20List%20Description%20for%20Web.pdf 

Land Use and Environmental Mediation Resources

Land use and environmental mediation resources, including a comprehensive compilation of resources from across the country, are posted on this site.  Follow the resources link on the right hand side of this page to view them. 

Discussion

If you have a comment or question you want to discuss with the group, please post it in the Discussion Forum below.

Comments or Questions

If you have comments or questions about this group's web page, please contact courtney@mhseattle.com.