Overview
J. Patrick Lennon works with developers, investors, and national companies navigating Michigan’s most challenging zoning and land use approval processes, land assemblages, and transaction structuring. Clients bring Pat in when projects are large, politically contentious, or likely to draw public opposition and legal risk, and when the cost of delay or failure is high.
Pat advises on land use approvals, zoning entitlements, and development and transaction strategy for complex projects across Michigan, including industrial, mixed-use, data center, energy, and commercial developments. His work often sits at the intersection of land use regulation, development structuring, local government process, and litigation positioning. He is frequently engaged when approvals require not only a command of the law, but also an ability to anticipate how issues will play out in public hearings, before planning commissions, and in court if challenged.
Clients rely on Pat for statewide insight. He works across Michigan municipalities and townships, helping projects advance in regulatory environments that are increasingly restrictive, highly procedural, and subject to organized opposition. His approach combines legal analysis, practical development experience, and an understanding of how local decision‑makers and public processes actually function on the ground.
Pat is regularly called upon by national law firms and advisors to serve as Michigan land use counsel on high‑stakes developments. He collaborates closely with real estate, environmental, and litigation teams to help clients move projects forward efficiently and defensibly, from site selection and entitlement strategy through approvals, negotiation of development documents, and related litigation when necessary.
His experience spans traditional zoning and land use matters, as well as emerging and capital‑intensive projects such as data centers, renewable energy facilities, and infrastructure‑related developments. As the regulatory and political environment around land use continues to evolve, Pat helps clients adapt their strategies while keeping long‑term project goals in focus.
Pat is admitted to practice in Michigan and Florida.
Services
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
Large‑Scale Development and Redevelopment
- Advised owners and developers on zoning, land use approvals, and redevelopment strategy for major legacy sites, including large‑acreage demolitions and mixed‑use redevelopment projects involving extensive coordination with local governments and public entities.
- Represented developers in the redevelopment of sports and entertainment facilities, including negotiating complex development agreements among multiple public and private stakeholders and securing associated land use approvals and economic development incentives.
Data Centers, Energy, and Infrastructure
- Represented developers and investors in connection with land use approvals and litigation related to large data center developments in Michigan.
- Advised renewable energy and infrastructure clients on site selection and land use approval strategy for projects including battery energy storage facilities, solar facilities, wind energy repowering, and fleet charging infrastructure across multiple Michigan municipalities.
- Counseled investors on amendments to existing land use approvals and permitting frameworks for large‑scale renewable energy projects in regulated and contested jurisdictions.
Contentious Zoning and Public Hearing Matters
- Represented national and regional developers in highly adversarial planning commission and city council proceedings involving rezonings, special land use approvals, planned unit developments, variances, and site plan approvals.
- Successfully navigated projects facing organized public opposition, protest petitions, and attempted referenda, including matters involving challenges to municipal approval authority and procedure.
- Negotiated consent judgments and resolution strategies following denial of land use approvals, including matters that proceeded into litigation.
Commercial, Industrial, and Retail Projects
- Represented national retail and fueling station operators in securing zoning and land use approvals for multiple locations across Michigan, often in politically sensitive or heavily opposed environments.
- Advised industrial and manufacturing users on site selection, land assemblage, rezoning, facility expansion, decommissioning, relocation, and redevelopment of operational sites.
- Counseled data‑intensive and industrial users on land use strategies aligned with long‑term operational, transactional, and financing objectives.
Residential, Mixed‑Use, and Resort Developments
- Represented developers of multi‑family, condominium, student housing, and mixed‑use projects throughout Michigan, including matters involving nonconforming uses and planned unit developments.
- Advised resort, condominium, and hotel developers on land use approvals, condominium structuring, and conversion of historic or legally nonconforming developments into compliant, entitled projects.
Land Use Litigation Support
- Worked closely with litigation teams on zoning and land use disputes arising from denied approvals, referendum challenges, ordinance compliance disputes, and entitlement litigation, including matters with significant financial exposure.
Prior Experience
- Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., Principal
Credentials
Education
- Business
- with honors
Admissions
- Florida
- Michigan
Recognition
Awards
- Chambers USA
- Recognized as “Up and Coming” in the Real Estate field in Michigan, 2006 and 2007
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2026
- Recognized in practice area of Real Estate Law
- Kalamazoo Real Estate Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2019
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2015-2019
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Public Finance Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Real Estate Law: Commercial, 2017, 2023-2024
- Business Review Magazine, Top Business Leaders Under 40, 2005
- State's Stars, Michigan State University Alumni Magazine, Spring 2011-Spring 2012
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, "2022 Go-To Lawyer for Real Estate and Condo Law"
Professional & Community Involvement
- Southwest Michigan First
- Board of Directors, 2018 – 2024
- Emeritus Board Member, 2024 – Present
- Michigan State University Foundation Board of Directors
- Advisory and Honorary Directors Council, August 2019 – 2022
- Urban Land Institute – Michigan
- Western Region Chairman, 2011 – Present
- Executive Committee Member, 2011 – Present
- ULI National Meeting Spring 2018, Host Committee Member
- Lifetime Achievement Awards Committee, 2012 – Present
- Ascension Borgess Medical Center Foundation
- Board of Trustees, 2010 – 2020
- Chairman, 2017 – 2019
- Vice Chairman, 2015 – 2017
- Treasurer, 2013 – 2017
- Michigan Bar Association
- Real Property Law Section
- Florida Bar Association
- Estates, Probate, and Property Law Section