Business Details
36 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Land Use Entitlements
Sapetto Group has been a trusted leader in land use entitlements for over three decades. Founded in 1990 by Pamela Sapetto, our firm specializes in navigating complex regulatory landscapes to secure approvals for commercial, industrial, residential, and mixed-use developments across Southern California. Our expertise spans government relations, community outreach, policy issue management, and project management, supported by a proven track record of successfully permitting approximately 70 million square feet of commercial/industrial/retail development and 55,000 residential units. With deep jurisdictional relationships and a focus on strategic communications, we deliver tailored solutions for entitlement challenges. Our team combines decades of experience with a commitment to ethical practices, evidenced by our leadership roles in organizations like the American Planning Association and Urban Land Institute.We serve major developers including The Irvine Company, Toll Brothers, and Avalon Bay, leveraging our technical proficiency in Conditional Use Permits, General Plan Amendments, and environmental review processes. Our community engagement approach ensures alignment between development goals and local stakeholder interests, while our project management capabilities maintain rigorous timelines and compliance standards. This combination of technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and relationship-building forms the foundation of our client-centric service model.
Services
Government Relations
Community Outreach
Project Management
Conditional Use Permits
General Plan Amendments
Environmental Review Support
Strategic Communications
Expert Witness Services
Zone Changes
Master Plan Preparation
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of specialized experience in Southern California land use entitlements
- Our team has secured approvals for 70 million square feet of commercial development
- Proven success with complex Conditional Use Permits and General Plan Amendments
- Established relationships with key regulatory bodies across Southern California
- Comprehensive project management from due diligence to final approval
Services
Government Relations
We build strategic relationships with local governments to navigate regulatory processes. Our team secures land use entitlements through policy expertise and jurisdictional knowledge. Clients benefit from our established connections with planning departments and decision-makers across Southern California.
Community Outreach
Our outreach programs create dialogue between developers and local communities. We organize public meetings, address concerns, and build support for projects. This proactive approach minimizes opposition and accelerates approval timelines for complex developments.
Project Management
We oversee entitlement processes from initial concept to final approval. Our management includes timeline coordination, compliance monitoring, and multi-agency communication. Clients receive comprehensive support for Conditional Use Permits, environmental reviews, and zoning changes.
General Plan Amendments
We prepare and process plan amendments required for development projects. Our expertise includes zoning analysis, impact assessments, and presentation to planning commissions. This service ensures projects align with municipal development frameworks.
Expert Witness Services
Our professionals provide technical testimony during public hearings and legal proceedings. We present land use data, development impacts, and compliance measures to support project approvals before governmental bodies and courts.
People
Pamela Sapetto
CEO / President
Pamela Sapetto founded the company in 1990 after completing MIT/HARVARD consensus-building training. With 30 years of experience, she has secured approvals for 70 million square feet of development and 55,000 residential units across Southern California.
Andrea Maloney
Vice President
Andrea Maloney has managed entitlement projects for 24 years. She joined in 1996 after serving as Planning Vice President at RBF Engineering. Her expertise includes Master Plans, Affordable Housing Plans, and public hearing processes across Southern California.
Questions
What geographic areas do you serve?
We specialize in land use entitlements throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
What project types do you handle?
Our experience includes commercial, industrial, residential, mixed-use, and institutional developments requiring Conditional Use Permits, General Plan Amendments, and zoning changes.
How do you approach community opposition?
We implement proactive outreach strategies including public meetings, stakeholder dialogues, and educational campaigns to address concerns and build project support.
What differentiates your services?
Our combination of regulatory expertise, 30-year track record with 70+ million square feet of approvals, and strategic government relationships create unique value for clients.
Can you handle complex entitlement projects?
Yes, we specialize in complex projects requiring environmental review support, policy issue management, and multi-agency coordination across Southern California's regulatory landscape.
