Land Use Law

Mr. Hechtman has represented a wide variety of property and business owners in obtaining governmental approvals granted after public hearings and in defending owners accused of municipal code violations. He has served as Assistant City Attorney to the City of Scotts Valley and its Planning Commission, Special CEQA counsel to the East Palo Alto Sanitation District and acting City Attorney to the City of Menlo Park regarding the University Circle Project.

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Eminent Domain

Mr. Hechtman has represented public entities, property owners, and tenants in both condemnation and inverse condemnation actions. His work includes assemblage of parcels for large public projects and asserting goodwill, severance and impaired access claims on behalf of property and business owners.

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Property Related Litigation

Mr. Hechtman has represented private property owners before both trial and appellate courts on numerous development-related lawsuits involving CEQA (environmental), general plan and zoning, boundary and easement disputes, enforcement of CC&R’s, and Williamson Act (agricultural preserve) issues.

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Property Related Transactions

Mr. Hechtman has worked for businesses and property owners on transactions involving acquisition, development and uses of real property, including sales agreements, leases, easements, CC&R’s, and other property-related agreements.

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Bar Admissions

State Bar of California 1987
State Bar of Arizona 1988
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

 

Education

J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law – San Francisco, CA 1987
Law Journal: Note Editor, Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law 1985–1987
B.A. with Departmental Honors in Political Science from the University of California – Berkeley, CA 1983

 

Seminars and Speaking Engagements

Co-Chair Eminent Domain NorCal Conference, CLE International 2009–2019, 2022
Eminent Domain Case Law Update, CLE International 2010–2019, 2022
Legal Descriptions, Appraisal Institute 2017
Eminent Domain Primer, California State Bar 2016
Plat and Subdivision Law, Lorman 2014
Williamson Act, CLE International 2010
Tenants Goodwill Claims, CLE International 2009
Condemnation, California Eminent Domain Appraisal Practice 2006
Condemnation, Appraisal Institute 2003
Condemnation, International Board of Continuing Legal Education 2002

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Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of California
Santa Clara County Bar Association
Condemnation Attorneys Group 2000–present
California Lawyers Assn. Real Property Section, Condemnation Subcommittee Co-Chair 2011-present

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Awards/Honors

​“AV” Preeminent Rating Martindale-Hubbell
Northern California Super Lawyer in Land Use/Zoning 2006, 2010–2023

Best Lawyers recognition in Eminent Domain/Condemnation and Land Use/Zoning 2013-2023

Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year in Land Use/Zoning - San Jose 2020 and 2023

 

Other Affiliations

Commissioner, Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission 2019-present (Chair 2020-2021)

Member, Congregation Etz Chayim Board of Directors 2010-2018 (President 2013-2015)