Steven J. Gillespie

Steve Gillespie helps clients develop their property. He works with prospective land purchasers to evaluate the potential uses for their land under the existing zoning and land use controls. When the current zoning is not suitable for the client’s needs, Steve helps clients explore comprehensive plan and zoning changes, then works with local officials to get the right zoning for the community and the project. He helps clients navigate code enforcement and historic preservation regulations, and coordinates with local staff to get the best permit decision for his clients, which often involves arguing appeals and other issues before local hearing examiners.

Steve can also help when disputes reach beyond the administrative level. In addition to land use appeals under the Land Use Petition Act, his courtroom experience includes actions for writs, declaratory judgment, quiet title, ejectment, and damages. Steve has worked with all aspects of zoning and land use law, such as the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (commonly known as SEPA), the Shoreline Management Act, the Growth Management Act, and others.

Steve proudly represents Seattle’s Major Institutions: the universities, colleges, and hospitals that educate and care for people throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has also represented developers of projects such as hotels, apartments, single-family homes, schools, senior housing, and warehouses. He helps property owners with code enforcement actions, landmark regulations, shoreline issues, lot creation/boundary adjustment, and any other land use issue that clients face.

Before joining McCullough Hill, Steve practiced for over sixteen years at a well-regarded Seattle-area firm. He is active in the community and has served as a member on several boards and committees, including the Seattle Parks District Citizen Oversight Committee and the Downtown Seattle Association.

Born on Capitol Hill and reared in Renton, Steve attended the University of Washington. After swimming competitively through high school, he turned to crew at the UW and rowed all four years. In between practices and wasting time at the boathouse, he managed to graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (Dean’s list) and a minor in mathematics. Upon graduation, he moved to Georgia to train with the United States National Rowing Team, ultimately representing the United States at five World Championship regattas and making a name for himself as the emcee for the annual National Team Talent Show. At the 2003 World Championships, he and his partner performed well enough to qualify the US Men’s Double for the Athens Olympics…but they lost at trials in 2004 and so Steve never competed in the Olympics.

After retiring from rowing, Steve returned to Seattle to study law at the University of Washington where he graduated with honors. Steve lives with his wife and two kids in Capitol Hill and currently serves as a volunteer coach and umpire to his kids’ Little League teams. When he can escape familial obligations for a spell, Steve enjoys cycling, surfing, paddleboarding, reading, fretting about politics, and taking long walks in the rain with doughnuts.

• Assisted a private university and two hospitals in obtaining Major Institution Master Plan approval, including administrative SEPA appeals and challenges to the City Council
• Currently guiding a private university, a public college, and two hospitals through the Major Institution Master Plan process
• Assisted the University of Washington with project-level permits to implement various projects identified in its master plan, including a student housing project and a new Computer Science and Engineering building
• Helped a community college obtain a zoning text amendment from the Seattle City Council to allow student housing
• Assisted a private university with City of Seattle landmarks regulations
• Assisted a private university in obtaining a shoreline variance for light poles on an athletic field

• Was part of the team that successfully obtained and defended master use permits for the Rainier Square redevelopment
• Helped a nonprofit developer of affordable housing obtain master use permits for affordable housing projects in and around Seattle
• Guided a small apartment owner through the first ever sale of landmark TDRs in the University District
• Assisted a property owner in the Denny Triangle with a tower separation issue that allowed the developer to build two 400’ towers on one lot despite opposition from neighboring developer
• Advised multiple clients with lot creation and boundary adjustment

• Assisted multiple homeowners resolve boundary disputes through litigation and negotiation
• Advised a regional transit authority regarding a local government’s attempt to prevent light rail construction
• Successfully defended a nonprofit affordable housing operator’s parking spaces against a neighbor’s claim of right
• Successfully represented a port district in an action for damages against a county for interference with land use entitlements in a case that went to the Washington State Supreme Court

• Volunteer Coach & Umpire, Seattle Central Little League
• Bayview Manor Retirement Community
  • Case Development Committee, Member
• Citizens Advisory Board, Member
• Downtown Seattle Association, Urban Experience Committee
• Parents for a Better Downtown Seattle, Steering Committee Member
• Seattle Parks District Citizen Oversight Committee Member

• Chambers USA (Washington) Leading Individual, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2020-2023)
• Best Lawyers, Land Use & Zoning Law (2018 – present)
  • Washington State “Lawyer of the Year”, Land Use & Zoning Law, 2023
• Super Lawyer (Washington), 2023
  • Rising Star, 2013 – 2017

• "Understanding Public Easements in Western & Eastern Washington," Live Seminar & Webcast
  • Seminar - Seattle, Washington, 04/04/2024
•  "Washington State Land Use Law for Building Professionals," Halfmoon Education Inc. Webinar
  • Speaking Engagement - 05/04/2023
•  "Disputes of Private Lanes and Roadways," The Seminar Group's 10th Annual Program: Understanding Public Easements in Western & Eastern Washington
  • Seminar - 05/05/2022
• "Land Use and SEPA Update," Hearing Examiners Association of Washington 2020 Annual Conference
  • Speaking Engagement - Virtual event - 10/08/2020
• 18th Annual Seminar on SEPA & NEPA
  • Speaking Engagement - Seattle, WA, 01/10/2020
• "You Stonewalled my Gravel Mine! HMMM...LUPA Appeal or Damages Action?" Washington State Bar Association Environmental & Land Use Law Section Midyear Conference
  • Speaking Engagement - 05/03/2019
• "Land Use Petition Act (LUPA) Updates," KCBA Environmental & Land Use Section: How Does Our Work Affect the Future Development of Greater Seattle?
  • Speaking Engagement - Seattle, WA, 04/04/2019
• Law Seminar International's 15th Annual Seminar on SEPA & NEPA
  • Speaking Engagement - Seattle, WA, 01/10/2018
• 2017 Real Estate/Land Use Briefing: Essential Industry Updates
  • Event - Seattle, WA, 11/09/2017
• "Special Consideration in Project Development Planning," WSBA 2017 Environmental and Land Use Law Section Midyear Meeting & Conference - Speaking Engagement - May 2017

Publications:

• Seattle's Inclusionary Zoning Scheme May Face Challenges," Law360 
  • Law360 (04/17/2019)
• 2018 Regional Real Estate Practice Guide: Washington
  • Chambers USA: Regional Real Estate Guide, 18

• University of Washington School of Law, J.D. with honors, 2022
• UW Student Legal Services, Licensed Legal Intern
• Whitman College, B.A. with honors, magna cum laude, Politics, 2014
• Robert Y. Fluno Award for Best Paper in Politics
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
• Semester in the West environmental studies field program

• Washington
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington