David M. Smith

David serves as the firm’s Director of Development and Zoning. David’s background is in permitting, planning, development, growth management and governmental regulation. He came to the firm in 1990 from the Hillsborough County Government, where he worked for fourteen and a half years in community development, planning, zoning, and permitting. During his employment with Hillsborough County, he was Manager of Administration and Planning for the County’s Community Development Block Grant program, South County Planning Manager and was the County Planning Department representative during all public hearings on the 1989 amendment of the County Comprehensive Plan under the State’s Growth Management Act.

He received his undergraduate degree from Furman University and his MBA from the University of South Florida. David’s role at the firm is that of in-house consultant regarding planning, zoning, permitting, and governmental regulation. His involvement spans all practice areas of the firm ranging from litigation to transaction. David has also been involved extensively in comprehensive planning, rezoning and land use, as well as eminent domain takings and property rights issues ranging from road widenings and school sites to height restrictions. His expertise and knowledge of zoning, planning, development, and permitting, and his experience managing planners and engineers, provides the firm with an in-house capability to conduct real estate due diligence, address code enforcement, zoning and development issues, expedite permitting and to assess takings and property rights issues. David not only identifies key issues but also effectively addresses land use and permitting issues directly or as needed, assembles and coordinates a team of experts to address issues and process a case through the system to conclusion.