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Daniel Lauber
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Biography
Daniel Lauber has been handling the most challenging land-use cases for decades. The skills developed in over 25 years of winning zoning approval for such LULUs (Locally Unwanted Land Uses) as group homes, sober homes, halfway houses, and recovery communities have translated well to winning zoning approval for commercial uses adjacent to residential areas and multi-family housing in communities known for their resistance.
Mr. Lauber's background as a city planner enables him to better understand and anticipate neighborhood objections -- and devise ways to prevent neighborhood opposition from arising.
Mr. Lauber also practices Fair Housing law, especially for sober homes, group homes, halfway houses, and recovery communities for people with disabilities. He has frequently served as a legal and planning consultant to jurisdictions to bring their zoning for group homes into compliance with the nation's Fair Housing Act.
Mr. Lauber has also served many times as an expert witness in zoning and fair housing cases before zoning boards and in court.
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law
- J.D. | Law
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- Honors: Dean's List: Autumn 1984, Spring 1983, Autumn 1983
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- University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
- Masters of Urban & Regional Planning | Urban & Regional Planning
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- Honors: Deans list
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- University of Chicago
- B.A. | Sociology
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- Honors: Deans list, 1968-69, 1969-70
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Professional Experience
- Attorney
- Law Office Daniel Lauber
- - Current
- President
- Planning/Communications
- - Current
- City planning consultant concentrating in zoning, affordable housing, fair housing, analysis of impediments to fair housing choice, consolidated housing plans, design and implementation of random sample community surveys, housing market analysis
- Lecturer
- Loyola University of Chicago - Department of Sociology
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- Taught undergraduate course, Sociology 125 -- "Chicago: Growth of a Metropolis" primarily to juniors and seniors. Course combined sociology, urban planning, and urban history to expand upon the usual course curriculum offered.
- Adjunct Professor of Environmental Science
- Governors State University, College of Arts & Sciences
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- Guest lecturer for planning courses; conducted research on effects and regulation of condominium conversions and the use of social impact analysis in municipal planning.
- Senior Planner
- Village of Oak Park
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- Researched and wrote award-winning Comprehensive Plan 1979 in compliance with 701 Comprehensive Planning Assistance requirements; prepared grant applications and budgets; prepared zoning ordinance revisions and reports; reviewed zoning applications and proposed ordinances; worked with code enforcement personnel; supervised assistant planners; provided staff assistance to Plan Commission and Village Board of Trustees.
- Senor Planner / 701 Program Coordinator
- Illinois Dept. of Local Government Affairs - Office of Research & Planning
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- Administered 701 Comprehensive Assistance Program for northeastern Illinois; prepared 701 applications and budgets; provided technical assistance by written report and oral presentation to local governments on planning, administration, risk management, home rule, downtown and economic development, annexation, incorporation, code enforcement; conducted workshops on housing; trained and supervised agency staff; prepared articles and grant applications; prepared chapters of the state land-use plan.
- Principal Contributing Consultant
- American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Housing and Urban Growth
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- Researched and wrote zoning hearing examiner portion of "Improving the Administration of Land Use Controls," in Housing for All Under Law: New Directions in Housing, Land Use, and Planning Law, (Ballinger Publishing Company), 1977.
- Research Associate
- American Society of Planning Officials - Planning Advisory Service
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- Researched and wrote Planning Advisory Service reports, magazine articles, and ASPO's comments on federal legislation; answered over 1,500 inquiries from planning agencies and consultants on all aspects of planning and administration.
Publications
Articles & Publications
- Legal Lessons: Three decades on, group home zoning still at issue
- American Planning Association
- Focus on Community Residences / Group Homes
- American Bar Association Annual Conference
- Bringing Sense to American Housing Policy
- Keynote Address to the 2005 Annual Conference of the National Association of Housing Cooperatives
- Strategies for Change
- HUD, Fannie Mae Foundation, Fair Housing Council of Oregon
- The Struggle for Fair Housing: Weighing Our Progress
- Fair Housing Center of West Michigan
Certifications
- Certified Planner
- American Institute of Certified Planners
Awards
- Best Practices Award
- American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter
- Best Practices Award for "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in the City of Naperville, Illinois 2007"
- Paul Davidoff Award
- American Planning Association
- Paul Davidoff Award from the American Planning Association for demonstrating a sustained social commitment to advocacy planning in support of the needs of society's less fortunate members
- Award of Merit
- Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association
- Award of Merit for Program or Project of Unusually High Merit Performed Under Serious Budgetary, Staff, or Political Constraints Awarded for project to bring the zoning of the state's 110 home rule communities into at least partial compliance with the nation's Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Over 85% of the cities complied despite entrenched political opposition.
- Award of Merit
- Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association
- Award of Merit for Oak Park Comprehensive Plan 1979
Professional Associations
- Chicago Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- American Planning Association
- Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- American Institute of Certified Planners
- Member
- - Current
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- American Institute of Certified Planners
- President
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- Activities: Mr. Lauber is the only person ever elected twice as President of AICP.
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- Oak Park Regional Housing Center
- Member, Board of Directors
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- Illinois State Bar Association
- Local Government Committee Member
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- American Institute of Certified Planners
- President
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- American Bar Association
- Chairperson
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- Activities: Chair of the Group Home and Congregate Living Subcommittee of the Committee on Land Use Regulation
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- American Association on Mental Retardation
- Legal Advocacy Vice Chairperson
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- Activities: Region VI Executive Committee
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- American Bar Association
- Chairperson
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- Activities: Group Home Model Zoning Ordinance Subcommittee of the Committee on Regulation of Land Use Primary author of the ABA's model zoning code for group homes and other community residences
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- American Planning Association
- President
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- Activities: Mr. Lauber also served as a Director of APA in 1978-1979, 1981-1987, 1992-1994, and 2002-2005. As President, he created APA's Amicus Curiae Committee which continues to write influential briefs for cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal jurisdictions.
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- University of Illinois Alumni Association
- Member, Board of Directors
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- Metro-Help (National Runaway Switchboard)
- Member, Board of Directors
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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Fees
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Free Consultation
The initial discussion with a potential client is free. Retainer generally required. Hourly rate: $300 to $400 (half rate for travel time). Be sure to ask about discounted rates which are available depending on nature of the legal work and nature of the client. -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Practice is focused on fair housing, with extreme expertise in zoning for community residences for people with disabilities (group homes, sober living homes, recovery communities) -- representing operators and drafting zoning amendments and the study necessary to bring local zoning codes into compliance with the nation's Fair Housing Act.
Practice Areas
- Municipal Law
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Additional Practice Areas
- Group Home and Sober Home Zoning
- Fair Housing Law
- Zoning Law
- Land Use Law
Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Social Media
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