Howard S. Weiss

Howard S. Weiss is a Senior Partner, attorney and member of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron’s Government Relations practice and Chairs the New York City Land Use and Administrative Law groups. Joining the firm in 1986, Howard’s practice includes helping clients with issues involving:

• Administrative Law
• Economic Development
• Environmental Review
• Housing and Buildings
• New York City Zoning and Land Use

As Chair of the Land Use practice, he and his team manage a diverse range of matters from providing clients with due diligence to taking a project through New York City’s complex maze of discretionary land use approvals. Howard has extensive experience assisting clients in their understanding of the development potential of an individual lot or a tract of land as well as pursuing the full array of development options ranging from as-of-right zoning and development rights transfers, to discretionary land use entitlements that encompass zoning changes, special zoning permits, authorizations and certifications involving the City Planning Commission and New York City Council.

Mr. Weiss also represents the firm’s clients in connection with zoning variance applications before the Board of Standards and Appeals and requests for permission from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to alter or demolish historic buildings and develop sites in the city’s historic districts.

With seasoned experience steeped in city planning and municipal law, his professional career began in the office of Manhattan Borough President Percy E. Sutton as a member of his Board of Estimate staff and press secretary. Mr. Weiss later served as senior project coordinator in the Office of the Chairman of the City Planning Commission and thereafter became a special assistant to the Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning in the Koch Administration.

Mr. Weiss capped his tenure in city government as a supervising attorney in the Administrative Law Department of the New York City Law Department, where he represented:

• Board of Standards & Appeals
• Buildings, Housing Preservation & Development
• City Planning Commission
• Environmental Protection Departments
• Landmarks Preservation Commission

AWARDS & HONORS

• New York Metro Super Lawyers Top Rated Land Use & Zoning Lawyer 2014-2017, 2019-2020
• City & State Magazine’s Real Estate Power 100 (2020)

DESIGNATIONS