Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University with extensive post-graduate studies in government and politics. With nearly 20 years experience in municipal government covering a range of positions related to zoning, planning, building and overall redevelopment, Melissa holds extensive comprehensive knowledge of municipal regulations and processes.
Melissa served as a Zoning Planner for the City of Evanston from 2011 – 2019 and then the City’s Zoning Administrator from 2020 through 2024, while also holding various interim positions including Planning Manager, Building & Inspections Services Manager, Building Official, and Property Standards Analyst. During these years, Melissa oversaw the Zoning Board of Appeals and Land Use Commission, led significant code and regulation rewrites, and converted permitting and inspections to all-digital with regulatory and process changes at the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. As Zoning Administrator, Melissa prepared substantial ordinances, zoning memorandums, and legal briefs explaining regulatory requirements and processes, and testified and successfully defended numerous zoning appeals and court cases. Melissa left the public sector in late 2024 to combine her comprehensive knowledge of municipal processes and regulations related to construction and redevelopment and become a zoning specialist and development advisor with a focus on North Shore communities. To date, Melissa has successfully assisted with cases in Wilmette, Winnetka, Evanston, and Highland Park.
Our attorneys know Chicago area zoning laws inside and out. Whether you need approvals, permits, or legal guidance, we’re the team to call.
We assist business owners, investors and property owners throughout Cook, Lake, DuPage, Kane and Will Counties, including but not limited to:
