Zoning Entitlements

At GFF, zoning and entitlement efforts are not treated as a bureaucratic obstacle—they’re seen as a design opportunity. When we engage in the entitlement process, we approach it with the understanding that any request for increased height, density, or land use flexibility is ultimately an ask of both the city and the surrounding community. What sets our process apart is our commitment to creating strategies that include meaningful community benefits—often without compromising project viability.

These community givebacks aren’t always costly or complex. In many cases, they take the form of wide sidewalks, street-level open spaces, or thoughtful building placement that enhances the pedestrian realm. We’ve found that by proactively integrating these elements into our designs, we’re able to generate community support and improve the likelihood of entitlement approvals. In urban projects, we frequently propose below-grade parking to enhance street and sidewalk activation and we design public spaces that provide long-term value for the neighborhood, such as plazas, trail connections, tree preservation and thoughtfully place open spaces.

Our track record in entitlement success is also rooted in our deep local knowledge and collaborative mindset. We work closely with zoning consultants, attorneys, and community members, and we’re often recommended by these professionals because we understand the nuances of the process and how to position projects for success from the start. Most importantly, we listen. We adapt designs based on neighborhood feedback, prioritize context-sensitive massing, and ultimately deliver buildings that communities want to support—not just during the zoning process, but after construction is complete, because they improve the quality of life where they are located.