Douglas J. Janacek

Douglas J. Janacek Co-Chairs the Real Property and Environmental Department and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. His areas of concentration are real estate development, planning, permitting and redevelopment matters with emphasis on commercial, office and industrial developments. He has appeared before planning and zoning boards and governing bodies of many municipalities throughout the state, and also before the NJDEP, NJDOT and other state and county agencies, in connection with real estate development and redevelopment projects. This practice area has additionally involved Mr. Janacek in issues concerning a variety of permitting requirements, including wetlands, coastal zones, streams encroachment and waterfront development permits. He was also involved in the formulation and drafting of the New Jersey Highway Access Management Code, one of the most comprehensive highway access regulations in the United States.

Rutgers University School of Law - Newark (J.D., 1985)
Editor, Rutgers Law Review (1984-1985)

Seton Hall University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1982)

State of New Jersey 1985

Member, Essex County Bar Association

Member, New Jersey State Bar Association

Member, American Bar Association

Member, NJDOT Highway Access Advisory Committee

Member, NJ School of Architecture Advisory Board

Member, Tewksbury Township Planning Board

Member: Chairman, NAIOP, New Jersey Chapter - Third Party Appeals Committee

Member, International Council of Shopping Centers

Past Director, Land Use Section of the NJ Bar Association

Editorial Board, Gibbons Real Property & Environmental Law Alert blog (www.rpelawalert.com)

"Cracking the COAH Code," GlobeSt.com, October 12, 2009 (Douglas J. Janacek, Michael Miceli)

"Hate Surprises? Read This.," In-Sites, October 7, 2009 (Douglas J. Janacek, Michael Miceli)

"Don't Take Property, At Least Not Without Telling Someone!," The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, June 2007 (Douglas J. Janacek, Jason R. Tuvel)

"Lowering the Density Level - An Analysis of Grubbs v. Slothower," NJPA Real Estate Journal, March 23 - April 12, 2007 (Douglas J. Janacek, Jason R. Tuvel)

"Appeals Court Strikes Down Third Round COAH Rules; Corzine Administration Given Six Months to Develop New Affordable Housing Plan," In-Sites Special Alert, January 29, 2007 (Douglas J. Janacek, Jennifer M. Porter)

"Environment and Land Use - New Flood Hazard Area Control Rules Proposed," New Jersey Lawyer, December 18, 2006 (Douglas J. Janacek, Jason R. Tuvel)

"Expired approvals and the right to build - When is enough, enough?," NJPA Real Estate Journal, September 22, 2006 (Douglas J. Janacek, Michael Miceli)

"NJDEP Proposes De Facto Sewer Ban and Significant Restrictions Affecting New Septic Systems," In-Sites, Special Alert, November 16, 2005 (Douglas J. Janacek, Jason R. Tuvel)

"State Takes Control Over Development Decisions for Hundreds of Thousands of Acres as Highlands Act Becomes Law of the Land in Much of Northern New Jersey," In-Sites, October 15, 2004 (Paul M. Hauge, Douglas J. Janacek)

"NJDEP Legislative, Regulatory and Policy Update - Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, Stormwater Regulations and ISRA Letters of Nonapplicability ('LNA')," In-Sites, Special Alert, April 30, 2004 (Douglas J. Janacek, Gregory R. Alvarez, Arthur J. Clarke)

"Stormwater Management Regulations," In-Sites, January 20, 2004 (Douglas J. Janacek, Gregory R. Alvarez)

"DEPE Proposes Expansion of Third Party Permit Appeals," NAIOP News, March 1, 1992

"Rule 68: An Offer You Can't Afford to Refuse," 37 Rutgers Law Review, 373 , January 1, 1985

Interviewed in "Meet the Real Estate Lawyers," Real Estate New Jersey, April 2008 (Russell B. Bershad, Douglas J. Janacek)

Quoted in "Avoiding the Landmines: Buying and Selling Commercial Real Estate," New Jersey Business, 2006

Moderator, Schein Media Conferences, "Urban Real Estate Conference" Newark, NJ. September 10, 2008

Speaker, American Conference Institute, "Negotiating Restaurant Leases" New York, NY. July 12, 2007

Speaker, ICSC - ICSC New York Conference "ICSC - New York Convention" New York, NY December 5-7, 2005

Speaker, ICSC - ICSC PA/NJ/DE Idea Exchange "ICSC - Convention" Philadelphia, PA September 22-23, 2005

Speaker, The Urban Enterprise Zone & Redevelopment in Newark "An Inside Look At The City's Plan", Newark, NJ May 17, 2005

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Land Use & Zoning Law, 2010

Recipient, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), New Jersey Chapter Outstanding Volunteer, November 2007

Law Clerk to Honorable David Landau, Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, General Equity Part, Essex, 1985-1986

Represent the developer of a major retail shopping center adjacent to the Hudson River waterfront in connection with all local, county and state environmental and transportation approvals.

Represent a publicly traded Fortune 500 company with regard to the closure of a former landfill facility and the development of a 300,000 square foot distribution facility on the former landfill site.

Development counsel to a national REIT with regard to its acquisition of several million square feet of existing and proposed office and retail space in two municipalities.

Development counsel to an international energy conglomerate with regard to its acquisition of electric generating facilities, including a nuclear power plant, in multiple jurisdictions.

Represented a publicly traded international package delivery company with regard to its expansion of its distribution facilities at existing and new locations throughout the NY region.

Represented a residential real estate developer with regard to the conversion of a former industrial building into a multi-family townhome development in Weehawken.

Counseled an international news agency with regard to the proposed conversion of an office facility into a telecommunications center with redundant security and power source requirements.

Represent various retail developers (consumer electronics, fast-food, toy, drugstore, etc.) with requirements to open numerous new sites on an annual basis. This representation requires substantial and efficient coordination of consultants and resources to identify and obtain all required approvals and permits, often on an expedited basis.

Represented international corporation and office developer in connection with the approval and construction of 200,000 square feet of Class A space.

Represented a coalition of Fortune 500 retail developers in connection with the opposition to and modification and adoption of the NJ Highway Access Management regulations.

Represented a state agency in connection with the drafting of regulations required to implement cutting-edge land use mechanisms as part of a "Special Area Management Plan."

Represented a large-scale shopping center developer in connection with Department of Transportation and related real estate issues concerning multiple "big box" development.

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