About the Firm
In 2005, a new Seattle-based small law firm emphasizing environmental law, land use law, and related regulatory counseling became available for efficient, solution-based consultation and advocacy and has quickly grown to prominence as one of the leading environmental and land use practices in the region.
In its first three years, the firm has:
Accomplished environmental and land use permitting and environmental liability resolution for the new Seattle Seahawks headquarters and practice facility on Lake Washington in Renton
Counseled the City of Bainbridge Island on risk management through intergovernmental negotiations. protective agreements and insurance acquisition while commencing purchase and redevelopment of the Eagle Harbor Superfund site
Commenced work as part of the project team engaged to comprehensively update zoning and subdivision regulations for the City of Bainbridge Island
Served as environmental and land use counsel on several noted mixed use and residential redevelopments in Seattle, Tacoma and smaller cities in the region, including the Dearborn Street/Goodwill redevelopment, the Ballard Blocks II redevelopment, The Hearthstone retirement expansion, the West Seattle Associates redevelopment, and the North Lot of Qwest Field in Seattle, as well as and Site 5 (The Esplanade) on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma
Advised clients in response to the Seattle City Council's rezoning of industrial lands in Fall 2007, including service on the steering committee for the Coalition for Wise Industrial Growth
Counseled large and small business on significant environmental cost recovery matters on noted commercial developments such as Lincoln Square in Bellevue
Provided land use counsel and due diligence to residential and "big box" retail developers, including the recently permitted Lowe's Home Improvement Center in Bonney Lake
Provided legal counsel in U.S. District Court to assure the rights of a religious institution hosting the homeless in the City of Bellevue
Provided land use counsel to a 60-member neighborhood group on Mercer Island monitoring a large, controversial development within a residential neighborhood
During this period, the firm has been a prominent sponsor of related professional events and provided numerous seminar presentations and articles on key issues.
Please scroll down and click on "News and Events" and "Download Resources" to review the latest firm developments, articles and seminar presentations.
Charles R. Wolfe. M.R.P., J.D. brings to clients 24 years of cutting edge experience in environmental and land use law, innovative land use regulatory tools and sustainable development techniques. Mr. Wolfe has held significant leadership positions in both the legal and planning professions. He currently represents municipalities and private parties on redevelopment, environmental and land use permitting and property remediation issues in Seattle, Tacoma, Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Everett, Snohomish County, Anacortes, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Milton, Bonney Lake, Sunnyside, Richland and several other venues statewide. He was previously a partner and chair of the Environmental Practice Group at Foster Pepper PLLC in Seattle and is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington, where he teaches several classes and has contributed to a major research grant addressing brwnfield redevelopment. Please click on "Firm Profile" for more biographical information.
He has been named a one of the 10 top environmental and natural resources lawyers in in Washington by Washington CEO Magazine and as well as a Washington Law & Politics "Superlawyer"every year since 2002, and was recently named a "Top 40 Environmental/Land Use Law Superlawyer". He carries Martindale-Hubbell's highest "AV" rating and is a frequent speaker and author on a variety of environmental and land use issues. He was recently named 2006-2007 "Volunteer of the Year" by the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning for his role in College fundraising and coordination of College activities with the Seattle District Council of the Urban Land Institute.
Breaking Firm and Client News
- August, 2007: Client City of Bainbridge Island hosts meeting of federal and state lawmakers,city, parks, tribal and state officials to tell Environmental Protection Agency representatives that EPA's intended remedy for the Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund site may prove to be unacceptable. Since 2003, Chuck Wolfe has served as special environmental counsel to the City of Bainbridge Island on matters relating to the Pritchard Park/Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund site acquisition. Click here for the Kitsap Sun article on the City-led meeting.
- August, 2007: Bonney Lake Marketplace Developers LLC receives permits for new Lowe's-anchored commercial development. Chuck Wolfe has served as land use counsel to the developer and has represented the developer and Lowe's in several municipal proceedings including a successful SEPA appeal before the City Hearing Examiner.
- May, 2007: EPA announces a second $200,000 Brownfield Grant for Eddon Boatyard in Gig Harbor. Click here for details. Chuck Wolfe is environmental counsel to the seller of the subject property, who is participating in a joint approach to site remediation and redevelopment with the City.
- January-March, 2007: Client Seattle Seahawks concludes negotiations and breaks ground on new headquarters in Renton, to be built on a brownfield site in Renton. Chuck Wolfe serves as environmental counsel to Football Northwest in implementing the prospective purchaser Consent Decree negotiated in 2000 and has advised Vulcan Inc., Football Northwest and related entities regarding the cleanup and redevelopment of the site since 1996.
- October, 2006: The Department of Ecology and client City of Bainbridge Island conclude negotiations on an Agreed Order addressing park use and development activities at the Phase III Purchase Area of the Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund Site. Since 2003, Chuck Wolfe has served as special environmental counsel to the City of Bainbridge Island on matters relating to the Pritchard Park/Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund site acquisition. Previous agreements included a Prospective Purchaser Agreement between the City and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- September, 2006: The City of Seattle holds a public hearing on the Dearborn Street Redevelopment of the Seattle Goodwill Industries property. Chuck Wolfe is environmental counsel to Dearborn Street Developers, LLC in the negotiation of a prospective purchaser consent decree with the Washington Department of Ecology for the planned multi-block mixed use redevelopment.
- May 12, 2006: EPA announces $200,000 Brownfield Grant for Eddon Boatyard in Gig Harbor. Click here for details. Chuck Wolfe is environmental counsel to the seller of the subject property, who is participating in a joint approach to site remediation and redevelopment with the City.
- May 9, 2006: Seattle Seahawks announce redevelopment of Renton properties for new headquarters and training facility. Click here for details. Chuck Wolfe has advised Vulcan Inc., Football Northwest and related entities regarding the cleanup and redevelopment of the selected site since 1996.
- April, May, and June, 2006: Chuck Wolfe to speak at Washington State Bar Association, Urban Land Institute and other seminar events on select environmental and land use issues. See "Download Resources" for Chuck Wolfe's presentation on infill redevelopment at the 2006 Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Midyear Meeting and Seminar and his presentation on project solutions for Law Seminars International's May 24 Model Toxics Control Act Workshop. See "News and Events" for other details, including the June 9 Urban Land Institute panel on zoning and compact development.
- March 7, 2006: Client Thea Foss Holdings LLC breaks ground on The Esplanade project in Tacoma, following its January 26 closing of its transaction with the Foss Waterway Redevelopment Authority and City of Tacoma, The closing enabled the brownfield redevelopment of Development Site 5 along the Thea Foss Waterway. Chuck Wolfe has served as special environmental counsel to Thea Foss Holdings in negotiations with the Washington Department of Ecology and City of Tacoma and has helped to facilate the transaction.
- February 27, 2006: Client City of Bainbridge Island closes on final phase of purchase of the Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund site. Prior to the City Council vote in January authorizing the closing, Chuck Wolfe summarized to the Council the history of negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology, as well as the environmental insurance policy aimed at securing a protective approach to park use and redevelopment activities, including the pending Nikkei War Memorial project. Since 2003, Chuck Wolfe has served as special environmental counsel to the City of Bainbridge Island on matters relating to the Pritchard Park/Wyckoff-Eagle Harbor Superfund site acquisition. Click here for the Kitsap Sun article on the City's site acquisition and park redevelopment.
- January 23, 2006: Client Temple B'nai Torah's constitutional and land use litigation in Bellevue on behalf of Tent City 4 concludes with a settlement between the City of Bellevue and the parties. Chuck Wolfe has served as special land use counsel to the Temple. Click here for the latest news on the Tent City 4 matter.
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