
Samantha Steketee is a Senior Land Use Planner with over 20 years of experience in the Northern Virginia real estate industry and all aspects of zoning and land use matters. Over the course of her career, Samantha has fostered many positive working relationships with a wide range of industry professionals–an attribute that is of immediate benefit to her clients and those of the firm.
Prior to joining Ballard Spahr, Samantha managed complicated land use applications at an Am Law 100 firm, including rezonings, special exceptions, and comprehensive plan amendments. In this role, Samantha served as the primary liaison between development teams and governmental entities. Her work touches a variety of asset classes such as residential, industrial, commercial, behavioral health hospitals, mixed-use and data center projects.
Samantha also worked as the land planning and entitlements manager at one of the nation’s largest homebuilding corporations, where she coordinated governmental review, project management, and land entitlement and planning activities. She also managed and prepared due diligence projects and oversaw all land development budget activities. This experience allows Samantha to understand the business implications of the entitlements achieved for clients.
Representative Experience
Representative Matters
Williamsburg Place – Approval of a Special Use Permit to allow the expansion of an existing psychiatric and rehabilitation facility to expand their footprint to increase the number of inpatient psychiatric beds, intermediate care substance abuse beds, outpatient domiciliary beds, and the wellness building, indoor and outdoor dining and kitchen facilities in James City County, Virginia.
The Sully at Westfields – Approval of a special exception for sign modifications to allow for a coordinated and comprehensive plan or permanent and temporary signage for the only mid-rise multi-family residential building within the mixed-use development known as Commonwealth Centre in Fairfax County.
Reston Station and Reston Row – Approval of the reallocation of the remaining unused density from Reston Station to the more logical, transit-proximate location at Reston Row at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station in Fairfax County.
Fairfax Hunt – Approval to rezone an 8.87-acre small infill residential community consisting of eight large single-family detached homes and the preservation of the circa-1790 log house associated with the Fairfax Hunt Club in Fairfax County.
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
Recognition & Accomplishments
National Association for Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) Capital Challenge Winning Team, "The Beacon on Wisconsin," 2015
Board Memberships & Community Service
Related Insights
Credentials
Education
George Mason University (M.S., Real Estate Development, 2015)
George Mason University (B.A. 2007)