Dirt to Development

2022 was a banner year for Withey Morris and our favorite restaurant Tarbells. Who better to recap it with than an Emmy Award winner, James Beard nominated, Paris-trained, two-time inductee to the Arizona Hall of Culinary Fame, and award winning restaurant owner, Mark Tarbell!!

Quick Land Use Update with Ben Tate: Recapping new state law regarding Major General Plan Amendments and why you should talk to your land use Attorney immediately.

From pinstripe suits and cowboy boots, to Auto malls and State Land, few people have had more of an impact on local development than Mike Withey, the original founder of Withey Morris, PLC and a beloved friend to Jason Morris and Adam Baugh. Enjoy the laughs with us as we take a trip down memory lane and learn why finding friends at the kegger on the first day of law school pays off in the long ru...

The state of the residential land market, future projections, and why Arizona is well positioned for long term success.  

What does Elvis at Las Vegas, The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Dirt to Development Podcast at the AZ American Planning Association have in common? History making, wild fans and great performances. Listen as we regale audiences at the APA conference with a little back to the future planning knowledge.

When Greg Vogel started with Coldwell Banker in the early 80's, little did he know about the value of land databases.  In the 40 years since, he created Land Advisors Organization, one of the premier land brokerage firms and leaders in PropTech. Listen as Greg shares how he went from Fraternity Brother to Land Guru while thrusting Arizona to new development frontiers.

Development has inherent risks which is why it is critical to be responsive to new trends and land use changes. Listen to our friends at Thompson Thrift talk about how they make commercial development an experience and destination to adapt to land use trends.

In early 2022, Arizona municipalities and cities were shocked to learn about a proposed bill in the Arizona State Legislature that would drastically handcuff municipal zoning authority in order to bring more affordable housing to market.  We call it the Zoning Attorney Job Killer legislation.  Thankfully, it didn't advance but the bill started a conversation about how Arizona might consider tackli...

If you can't play an attorney on TV, at least you can be a great one in real life. In this episode we discuss how land use litigation can affect the best deals and how important it is to assemble the world's best when involving high stakes transactions.

Finding the land deal can be tricky but negotiating the transaction can be more challenging given seller demands, title exceptions, and more. Dave Baker guides us through the real estate transaction, purchase agreement, title review, and closing.

Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince. Land development and site selection is the same, except choosing a poor site can blow up your deal…and your job. In this episode we learn from the best as they guide us through what to avoid when evaluating potential sites. 

Rezoning land is like navigating a minefield. One bad step and your entitlement case is blown to pieces. Listen in to hear tips and tricks to help navigate your way to success with top zoning experts. 

When the Masters in Real Estate Development (MRED) program launched at ASU in 2006, few people could foresee the role it would play in development projects across Arizona.  In the 16 years since, its influence is seen in the graduates, relationships, and projects that have been created because of it (as well as other copycat programs that imitate its success). In this episode we learn the origins...

Agritopia is to planning what the Beatles Sgt. Peppers album is to music – a masterpiece. Joe Johnston's accomplishments as a developer and entrepreneur include other successes like Epicenter, Coffee Plantation, Joe's BBQ, Joe's Farmhouse Grill, Liberty Market, and more. Listen as we hear how Joe reinvented his family farm into a model for place-making and creative development and how William John...

Michael Rumpeltin is the design brains behind notable projects like The Yard, Joyride Taco, Stock and Stable, Postinos Highland and more. Hear how he makes unique spaces work with adaptive reuse and experiential retail.

The Zoning Ordinance includes uses and development standards governing property development, but what happens when land uses don't fit neatly into a specific zoning district? Or when a site plan needs to change, or a zoning compliance letter is required? Listen as we discuss tips and tricks to work with planning agencies to secure favorable zoning letters that meet the intent of the code.  

The City of Glendale is seeing tremendous success with new developments along the 101 and 303 Freeways, and the tip of the spear is the City's Economic Development Department. Check out how Brian and Randy from Glendale's Economic Development Department help prepare and pave the way for successful developments, and why all new projects should start with them first.

Smart developers know the value of a good due diligence effort, which should only be done by local experts who know where the bodies are buried inside the city's zoning and permit records department. Yet for some reason, reckless developers are relying on out-of-state PZRs (Planning & Zoning Reports) as their sole resource for proper due diligence.  In this episode we discuss why local knowledge i...

If the General Plan were viewed as an atlas map, and a zoning map like a street map, then zoning attorneys would be Google Maps.  In this episode we provide critical guidance on how to navigate General Plan amendments, key filing deadlines, and potholes to avoid during that process.

The North Central Phoenix Homeowners Association is no pushover, and rightfully so. They've worked hard to set high standards and encourage good development. But not all cases are easily won and some give and take with the neighbors and developers is necessary. Listen in as we discuss effective neighbor outreach and learn key insights from a well-respected community leader, Mary Crozier.

The city planning department is more than just an episode of Parks and Recreation (but we sure would love to see Leslie Knope at the Planning Commission). As the Director of the fifth largest city in America, running the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department is a daily sprint. Not far away, Scottsdale's planning director confronts the daily struggle of old time Scottsdale and new day...

Serving on municipal boards and commissions is a thankless job. Nobody pays you, it's inconvenient and almost every decision makes another person upset. So why do it? We've got some sage advice from two of our favorite community resident volunteers. Jimmy Lindblom and Jessica Sarkissian discuss the pros and cons of serving on zoning boards and commissions, share insights on what makes a good zonin...

Watching the Fiesta Bowl on TV in January 1974 changed Nate Nathan's life. Seeing the sunshine and tanned coeds in Arizona while he shivered in Chicago brought him west and he never looked back. More than 40 years later, nobody is more involved in land deals, transactions and developments across Arizona than the legend himself – Nate Nathan. Join us as we hear Nate's background story, why "no" is...

Tribal politics is so 2020, yet we've been dealing with politics and land use since the Xerox machine. Zoning is at the intersection of politics and land use, and as a result, predictability is thrown out the window and uncertainty remains supreme. Listen as we discuss how politics and land use work together (and against each other) as we talk about the infamous Trump Tower zoning case from 2004,...

How can a project be so successful that it spurs massive area redevelopment and investment and yet creates a huge neighborhood outcry at the same time? In this episode we dissect "The Yard at 7 th Street, '' a case study on land use entitlements that includes variances, use permits, abandonments, signage, zoning interpretations and more. You'll learn why its success is a model on how infill and ad...