Melissa Gross-Arnold has been an environmental and land use attorney with Lewis Longman & Walker for four years.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
She focuses on water and waste water and anything dealing with land development including due diligence, permitting, zoning and land use.
“We represent public and private clients. So if we are talking about a developer, if they were interested in a piece of property, we would help them do their due diligence which is investigate the property to see whether it could be zoned or if it has the land use that would support the development that they want to have on that property. We review the environmental report to see if there are wetlands on the property, which makes development more expensive. They want to know about wetlands and contamination on the property before they event take title.”
WHAT IF THEY ALREADY OWN THE PROPERTY?
Gross-Arnold said if they are representing the developer then they would help them obtain any permits, environmental permits, get rezoning or change in land use if they needed it. “If they need any type of government approval, we would assist them with that.”
WHAT ELSE
DO YOU DO?
“We also represent private land owners and local governments in all types of government permitting. It’s not just related to development. The other thing that is different about our practice is that it isn’t strictly transactional or litigation, it’s both.”
HER HISTORY?
After earning her bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Florida, she worked as a paralegal for Lewis Longman and Walker in West Palm Beach.
LAW SCHOOL?
University of Florida College of Law. She and her husband both wanted to attend law school, so they moved to West Palm Beach and worked for three years and saved up so they both could attend law school at the same time. She passed the Bar in 2000.
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
Developers, local government, special districts, landowners and industrial clients.
WHAT MADE HER WANT TO BE AN ATTORNEY?
“Ever since I can remember I’ve been a person who wants to help people do what they want to do. That is what I see attorney’s doing. That’s the kind of practice that I want to continue to develop. Maybe it’s more of a business perspective, but what we do is figure out ‘What is the goal and how can we get there? I’ve always been that way, so I saw law as a way to help people in that way.”
IS IT HARD TO GET TO THE GOAL WITH ALL THE LAND USE AND ZONING LAWS?
“I think that is why people need attorneys to help them. When there is a simple straightforward matter, you probably don’t need an attorney. We try to figure it out and try to accomplish the goal in the shortest, least painful way possible.”
WHY CHOOSE LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW?
“It seems to be in a state like Florida, it is a very basic core area of the law. It has a lot of relevance to so many topics. It has to do with our commerce, health, education and touches a wide variety of topics.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“My favorite thing about my job is when we accomplish a goal for our client.”
WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES FACING COMMERCIAL REALTORS AND DEVELOPERS?
“There are a lot more folks out there who are watching development. They want to oppose it. So, it’s a challenge to developers to learn what the concerns are of the citizens or groups and either try to address those concerns or find an area that is not so controversial. Their goal is to be able to develop, still have profit margin and have a successful development.”
MENTOR?
Gross-Arnold said working with two lawyers at her firm, Wayne Flowers and Brenna Durden, have helped her immensely. Durden focuses primarily on land use and development and Flowers focuses more on environmental and water. “So, their background has really helped me figure out where I want to specialize in my own practice.”
OTHER ISSUES
She said there are a lot of people who are interested in buying property right now who have never done it before. They are buying it because they want to try and develop it themselves or they want to have a little rental property. “I don’t know why they are doing it. Maybe it’s because of the economy and they just want to own something. I think those people need to know that there is a lot more to owning land. Once you take title on that land, you could be liable for any environmental contamination on it. They don’t realize that there are these layers of government permitting that would be required to develop the land.”
WHAT CAN REALTORS DO TO HELP?
She said in some instances she’s had Realtors refer people to her after they have signed the purchase and sale agreement and need some guidance. “We help them connect with the finance community so they can get some financing for their project, we’ve helped the connect with people who can take them through the site plan development and market studies.”
Gross-Arnold said it would be better to refer clients before they sign the purchase agreement.
ADVICE FOR NEW ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE LAWYERS?
“Get involved in the community. Maybe join a community group or committee for their local government so they can see what some of the concerns are regarding land. They can also get a better idea of how land use decisions are made.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“I think it has been being involved in community organizations. I’m very involved in Jacksonville Community Council Inc. and through that organization I have really learned a lot about the community and what interests the people in the community.”
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT?
She is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Host Committee of the Super Bowl. “If an organization is interested in learning about the Super Bowl and how to get more involved, they contact the Host Committee and there is a group of us who will go out and give a presentation on the upcoming Super Bowl and what is going to happen.” She is also a member of Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville, Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law, Administrative Law and City, County and Local Government Law Sections; Florida Water Environment Association and American Water Resources Association.
ONE BEST THING THAT YOU WOULD TELL A COMMERCIAL REALTOR?
“If they are representing the buyer, an attorney is very valuable before they sign the purchase and sale agreement.”
HOMETOWN
Miami, but she was raised in Melbourne.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 2000 for her job.
FAMILY
She has been married to Shawn, a States Attorney, for eight years. They have one son, Benjamin, 2.
WHAT DOES SHE DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
She enjoys spending time with her husband and her son and walking.
RESIDES
Mandarin.
TEMPLE
Ahaveth Chesed.
-by Michele Newbern Gillis