Ronald S. Cope

Ron chairs the Land Use and Zoning Department and is a partner in the Government Group. He has extensive experience in local government, land use, and financing issues. Ron has been involved in the creation of TIF Districts, the establishment of special assessments, special service areas, the creation of business districts, redevelopment areas and condemnation of land for public use. He is actively involved in the siting of and defense of wind farms against nuisance and zoning claims. He has represented many clients, both private and governmental, in land use matters including the creation of Planned Unit Developments, annexations, the siting and defense of claims against wind farms, drafting new zoning ordinances, planning and funding redevelopment projects and town centers. He has provided counsel to municipalities and private developers on affordable housing issues.

Ron has been lead attorney in numerous cases in both trial and appellate courts. He was lead counsel in the principal case concerning the constitutionality of the School Reform Act of Illinois, a case ultimately decided by the Illinois Supreme Court. He has also served as lead counsel in precedent-setting cases upholding modern zoning concepts. He has litigated First Amendment issues involving free speech and freedom of religion and has defended local governmental bodies in complex contract disputes.

Ron has written and lectured extensively on land use law. He is the author of numerous articles on zoning and has lectured to attorneys and municipal officials on zoning and annexation issues. Ron is one of the featured speakers at the Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference, where he speaks on recent case law and statutes pertaining to zoning and annexation. Ron is also the general editor of Illinois Land Use Law published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Ron taught at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business for 18 years.

His experience includes:

• Illinois One News v. City of Marshall, 477 F.3d 461 (7th Cir.2007)
• Nelson v. County of DeKalb, 363 Ill.App.3d 206, 840 N.E.2d 746, 298 Ill.Dec. 682 (2nd Dist. 2005)
• Ocean Atl. Dev. Corp. v. Aurora Christian Schools, 322 F3d 983 (7th Cir. 2003)
• Jacobson v. Board of Edu. Of City of Chicago, 321 Ill.App.3d 103, 746 N.E.2d 894, 254 Ill.Dec. 137, 153 Ed. Law Rep. 726 (1 Dist. 2001)
• Fumarolo v. Chicago Bd. of Educ., 142 Ill.2d 54,153 Ill.Dec. 177,65 Ed.L.Rptr. 1181 (1990)
• LaSalle Nat. Bank v. Village of Bloomingdale, 154 Ill.App.3d 918, 107 Ill.Dec. 604 (2nd Dist. 1987)
• LaGrange State Bank v. Village of Glen Ellyn, 227 Ill.App.3d 308, 169 Ill.Dec. 307 (2nd Dist. 1992)
• Kyle v. Morton High School, 144 F.3d 448, 73 Empl.Prac.Dec., p.45,374, 126 Ed.L.Rptr. 651 (7th Cir. 1998)
• Cathedral of Joy Baptist Church v. Village of Hazel Crest, 22 F.3d 713 (7th Cir. 1994)

Recent Development and Economic Incentive Transactions:

• Currently representing wind farm in defending the development of a 151-wind turbine wind farm against challenges to the zoning and actions for various forms of damage. This is more than a $400 million wind farm development.
• Represented corporation in development of ethanol plant with the issuance of $44,000,000 Tax Increment Financing Bonds in Northwestern Illinois.
• Represented wind farm developer in the siting of a 90-turbine wind farm in Hamilton County, Kansas.
• Represented wind farm developer in the siting of a 72-turbine wind farm in Thomas County, Kansas.
• Representing Village in Business District Redevelopment Plan financing for redevelopment of regional shopping center in DuPage County.
• Representing Village in Redevelopment Plan for resort property with the total issuance of $9,400,000 General Obligation Bonds in DuPage County.
• Representing Village in creating Special Services Areas with total issuance of $48,000,000 Special Service Area Bonds in Kendall County.
• Representing Village in Redevelopment Plan with issuance of $3,000,000 Special Service Area Bonds.
• Work on complex annexations involving combinations of intergovernmental agreements and economic incentive agreements and the creation of Special Service Areas for the development of regional shopping center in the Northwest Chicago suburbs.