Douglas Rillstone

Douglas Rillstone represents clients in all aspects of the redevelopment of blighted, under-utilized, and often contaminated property for mixed use, or student housing, including issues with due diligence, development of contaminated property involving petroleum, solvents, metals and relic landfills, real estate contract negotiations, title, construction and permanent financing, Community Redevelopment Agency incentives, commercial condominiums, property exchanges, demolition and construction, and local permitting, variances, and land use approvals.

Mr. Rillstone was selected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a stakeholder representing landowner, agriculture, cattle and timber associations to develop Florida’s unique science-based regulatory process to designate and regulate protected species in Florida which included the development, adoptions and implementation of agricultural best management practices as an alternative to regulatory permitting and a process for Florida to implement the Federal Endangered Species Act.

Mr. Rillstone has routinely represented land owners, developers, mitigation bankers, miners, agricultural interests, energy, major transportation and industry associations in all aspects of the regulation of species, wetlands, waste, hazardous substance, water, including permitting, consultations, rulemaking, listing and delisting decisions, administrative appeals, enforcement, policy development, rulemaking and legislation.

Education:

• Hamline University School of Law, JD, cum laude (1985)
• Florida Institute of Technology, MS (1983)
• Florida State University, BS (1979)

Admissions : Florida

Experience:

• Has served as environmental and land use counsel to several student housing developers to address environmental issues associated with the redevelopment of under-utilized urban properties
• Represents primarily corporate and real estate interests in all aspects of land use and environmental law to develop and implement strategies to achieve the client’s objectives in an expanding array of local, state, and federal regulatory constrictions
• Has worked closely with landowners and agencies to develop solutions where conflicts arise between human activities and listed species such as manatee, panther, sand skink, indigo snake, wood stork, bald eagle, scrub jay, cara cara, beach mice, and others
• Has been involved in the regulation of wetlands for three decades, having participated at the state and federal level in permitting decisions, administrative appeals, enforcement actions and rulemaking

Professional Activities:

• Member, Board of Directors, Florida State University Real Estate Foundation
• Executive Board Member, Florida State University Real Estate Center
• Past Member, Executive Council, The Florida Bar
• Past Chair, Florida Chamber of Commerce Natural Resources and Growth Management Committee