Overview
Allison Reynolds is a land use partner whose practice is focused on helping residential, commercial, and industrial developers and companies navigate all phases of the land use entitlement process in Oregon and Washington.
Allison counsels clients through the permitting process before local governments and engages in local and state rulemaking to shape regulations beneficial to her clients’ interests. A natural strategist, she regularly counsels clients about development opportunities in the face of changing regulations and excels at leading permitting teams through negotiations with project regulators.
Allison assists clients with design review, land divisions, affordable housing and inclusionary housing compliance, development agreements, easements, conditional use permits, floor area and density transfers, code interpretations, advocacy on local ordinance and comprehensive land use planning and state legislative actions, zone changes, local improvement districts, and appeals to the Land Use Board of Appeals. She also aids clients with handling permitting issues specific to reuse of historic sites and challenges unique to waterfront development.
Education
University of Southern California Law School, J.D., 2010; staff, Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice; USC Environmental Law Society
Grand Valley State University Honors College, Political Science, B.S., 2006, cum laude; Seykora Award for Excellence in Leadership; Student Senate Vice President; Study Abroad: Trinity College Dublin
Admissions
Oregon
Washington
California
Experience
- Represented leading commercial development company in obtaining land use permits for a multiblock technology office project in the Vancouver, Washington, waterfront.
- Represented terminal operator in obtaining land use permits for renewable fuels infrastructure and in ongoing challenge to City of Portland land use decision.
- Managed all facets of reuse and redevelopment land use entitlement, including historic landmarks review for client’s renovation of a prominent historic building and Portland, Oregon, landmark. Key components included renovation, a new six-story half block multifamily addition, demolition review for existing structures on the block, a property line adjustment and no-build covenant, negotiations with concerned neighbors, and compliance with City inclusionary housing mandates.
- Obtained entitlements for five-building master planned mixed use development in Portland’s South Waterfront area, including complex Inclusionary Housing structuring within the master plan, design review appeal, and infrastructure challenges.
- Represented leading multifamily housing developer in all aspects of land use entitlements for mixed-use and multifamily projects along Vancouver, Washington, waterfront.
- Obtained conditional use approval for critical wastewater infrastructure at a paper mill facility despite significant local opposition.
- Obtained Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment and Zone Change in SW Portland to allow conversion of hotel to residential units
- Handled land use permitting and negotiation with neighborhood opponents for a flexible term housing and hotel project in NE Portland
- Represented joint venture in developing a last-mile distribution facility in the Portland Harbor.
- Represented grocery chain regarding innovative product distribution during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Represented developer in annexation and development of industrial campus in Wilsonville, Oregon.
- Represented developer seeking to purchase and develop City-owned land in Portland’s Central Eastside. Land uses challenges included sharing of density rights between the two properties and implementing new Code language for this area in a number of areas of first impression.
- Represented client in its redevelopment of Portland’s tallest building, which includes a multistory tower and a multistory data processing building with sensitive underground uses, connected by a sky bridge and large underground parking garage, both within the city’s right-of-way.
Insights
Insights & Presentations
- Moderator, “What to Expect from Portland & Multnomah County Elected Officials in 2023,” NAIOP Oregon Chapter Breakfast, February 23, 2023
- Moderator, Public Affairs Webinars on Portland Charter Reform Measure, NAIOP Oregon Chapter, September 27 and October 5, 2022
- Moderator, “Meet the Challengers!” Public Affairs Luncheon, NAIOP Oregon Chapter, April 20, 2022
- Presenter, Legislative Issues on the West Coast: Working With Policymakers to Make a Difference for CRE, NAIOP Developing Leaders, June 17, 2021
- Co-presenter, “Affordable Housing Update,” 22nd Annual Oregon Land Use Law Seminar, Portland, OR, December 12, 2018
- Presenter, “Affordable Housing,” The New Normal: Preparing for Portland’s New Development Trends, Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, OR, October 24, 2018
Recognition
- Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Land Use and Zoning Law), 2025
- Selected by the Portland Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 honoree, 2024
- Named a Rising Star “Woman of Influence” in the commercial real estate industry by GlobeSt.com, 2024
- NAIOP Board Member of the Year, 2022
Affiliations
Professional
- Board Member and Chair, Public Affairs Committee, Oregon Chapter of NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Oregon State Bar Land Use Legislative Committee, former Member
Civic
- Oregon Smart Growth, Board Member
- Portland Business Alliance, Land Use and Housing Committee, Chair
- Neighborhood House, former Board of Directors and Facilities Committee, and former Member
- Leadership Portland Class of 2021