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Gary Gandrud has practiced with the real estate group since joining Faegre & Benson as a partner in 1986. Prior to that time he served Bloomington as their City Attorney from 1972-1980. While in private practice he also served the communities of White Bear Lake and Sunfish Lake as their City Attorney. His practice emphasizes every kind of government approval including land use and zoning matters, administrative agencies, and eminent domain issues. With respect to land use matters, he has frequently represented clients developing shopping centers, office buildings, office warehouses, and retail and residential developments. This activity has involved everything from permitted uses to major comprehensive plan revision, rezoning, and litigation. His involvement in the creation of these developments has included his substantial experience with matters of public finance, tax-exempt municipal bonds, and special assessments. Gary has been involved in these matters throughout the Metropolitan area as well as in greater Minnesota. This local government expertise has been helpful to clients seeking reductions in taxable valuations, reduction in special assessments, and significant input into the timing and location of public improvements. Gary is one of four lead counsel representing the Metropolitan Airports Commission in the new runway expansion at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. This representation includes acquisition, relocation, and other issues regarding the Runway Protection Zone on the south end of new runway 17-35, the Exchange Agreement with the Mall of America, as well as the relocation of substantial utilities. Some of the other major land use matters that he has been involved with as lead counsel were: Preparation of the initial proposal and initial stages of development of the Mall of America Counsel to Holiday Companies on a variety of land use matters, such as helping governmental entities design public improvements to lessen any adverse affects on existing or proposed commercial locations Rezoning, replatting, and redevelopment of the Minnesota Masonic Home, a $25 million project that successfully involved every aspect of land use and public financing issues Most aspects of the use, sale and condemnation of the Metropolitan Sports Center (53 acre Met Center), adjacent to the Mall of America Shopping Centers, Office-Warehouse and Office Developments for Welsh Companies throughout the metropolitan area Ongoing representation of Sprint PCS in the multiple land use and environmental issues created by the location of transmission devices required for the implementation of their wireless PCS system Gary also has successfully resolved building code disputes on behalf of owners, developers, property managers, and tenants. In addition to his land use and zoning activities, Gary acts as outside legal counsel for USA Hockey, Inc., the national governing body of the sport of ice hockey. | 