PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Marcella has practiced land use law in Fort Worth and the north Texas area for 23  years in both the public and private sectors. She worked for the City of Fort Worth from 1994 to 2006 as an assistant city attorney, deputy city attorney and assistant director of the water department. While in the city attorney’s office, she advised the planning and development departments, City Council, Plan Commission, Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission,  and special task forces on a range of development matters including zoning, platting, annexation and exactions. Marcella drafted bills relating to municipal development issues and testified before the Texas Legislature concerning legislation affecting cities. During her term in the city attorney’s office, Marcella frequently made presentations to city boards and commissions and citizen groups concerning development issues, drafted city ordinances and development agreements, and worked with developers and their attorneys to resolve development issues.

Marcella moved to the Fort Worth water department in 2004. As an assistant director, she focused on planning of water and wastewater infrastructure to serve developing areas. Marcella helped draft the City’s policy concerning conservation and reclamation districts and negotiated agreements with developers for creation of such districts. While in the water department, she also worked on issues involving construction and financing of infrastructure, certificates of convenience and necessity, impact fees, and other utility issues.

Since returning to the private sector in 2006, Marcella’s practice has been devoted to representing developers and property owners to obtain entitlements for development projects and to resolve permitting, platting, vested rights,  impact fee, exactions, and other development issues.  Marcella’s  experience includes negotiating and drafting development agreements, community facilities agreements,  utility agreements, economic development agreements, and annexation and boundary adjustment agreements, and working with property owners to obtain consent from cities and counties for creation of municipal utility districts and other special financing districts.

Marcella grew up in Richardson, Texas, and has lived in Fort Worth since receiving her Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas. She is an avid Texas Rangers fan, dog lover and traveler.