Robert Kleeman is a shareholder at Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C., where his practice focuses on land use and land development, including zoning and other regulations impacting the development and use of land such as subdivisions and restrictive covenants. He also has extensive experience in permitting and compliance issues under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
Known for being tenacious and thorough, Robert’s practice encompasses convincing local governments to recognize previously established vested rights under Chapter 245, Texas Local Government Code; assisting purchasers of real property by preparing assessments of applicable development regulations; and representing landowners in condemnation and potential condemnation matters.
Robert assists landowners and developers in the creation and protection of vested development rights through annexation and development agreements with local governments. His practice also includes addressing and countering other tactics used to stop and limit land development, such as the listing of species as endangered by the federal government, frequent changes to regulations, and tree preservation ordinances.
He also assists with local permitting of telecommunication towers.
Experience
Early in his career, Robert represented the University of Texas System in its negotiations with the City of Austin that led to the first Brackenridge Development Agreement. Later, he represented the Del Valle ISD regarding the relocation of Del Valle ISD schools during the construction of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Between 1997 and 2004, he worked on entitling the Ribelin Ranch, a 719-acre property in Northwest Austin. He led the efforts to obtain a Section 10A permit under the Endangered Species Act, secure federal funding to purchase 319 acres for the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and obtain PUD zoning.
In 2012, Robert represented Hines in the re-negotiation of its the development agreement with the City of Lago Vista for the Tessera on Lake Travis project, and assisted in the formation of a Public Improvement District for the development. In 2016, he drafted and successfully negotiated with the City of Kyle an Annexation and Development Agreement for the nearly 3,000-acre Nance-Bradshaw Ranch.
Robert has also represented clients, including the RGK Ranch, in securing entitlements to protect the value of land assets as part of estate planning.
In the late 1990s, Robert helped draft and pass legislation to reform the way local governments develop and implement large regional habitat plans under the Endangered Species Act. He then served as special counsel to Bastrop County during the drafting and approval of Bastrop County’s Lost Pines Habitat Conservation Plan.
More recently, Robert represented the Texas Salamander Coalition and worked with Williamson County to minimize the adverse effects to landowners resulting from the listing of the Georgetown salamander as a federally listed endangered species.
For several years Robert served as the Vice President of Government Relations for the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, an organization that covers five Central Texas counties and more than 20 cities.
Current clients include the Lake Travis Independent School District on development matters and several telecom infrastructure companies.
Prior to Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C., Robert was a shareholder at Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr; a partner at Hall & Kleeman; and a clerk, associate, and partner at Minter, Joseph & Thornhill.