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Overview
Navigate the Zoning Process With an In-Depth Understanding of Zoning Regulations
Are you current on your knowledge of zoning laws? Can you confidently solve potential problems and ensure smooth zoning processes? Join us at this online seminar where you'll learn to facilitate positive outcomes by understanding key components of the approval process, procedures for challenging a zoning decision, as well as requirements for administrative appeals. Recognize constitutional limitations on zoning actions to ensure your actions are within the bounds of the law. Register today!
- Know the necessary steps - on a local, regional, and state level - for obtaining a permit.
- Review the limits on governmental power so you know how takings and exactions must be handled.
- Fulfill your role in the process when a zoning case is litigated or when a decision is appealed.
- Stay in the loop in your community with a knowledge of local zoning issues, including economic development and smart growth.
- Represent your clients with confidence with an in-depth understanding of key zoning concepts.
- Understand the constitutional limitations on zoning so you can handle questions of eminent domain with ease.
- Know the steps you need to take to fight for your client during an appeal of an administrative zoning decision.
- Take your zoning knowledge to the next level with an in-depth understanding of the process for adopting and amending the zoning ordinances and map.
Abbreviated Agenda
- Current Case Law and Legislative Update
- Roadmap for Navigating the Approval Process
- Constitutional Limitations on Zoning Actions
- Challenging or Appealing an Administrative Zoning Decision
- Adoption and Amendment of Zoning Ordinance and Map
- Dealing with Special Zoning Issues
- Ethics in Zoning and Land Use Law
Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey CLE |
|
7.2 Total | 05-13-2026 |
| New York CLE |
|
7 Total | 08-25-2028 |
| Pennsylvania CLE |
|
6 Total | 08-25-2027 |
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Agenda
-
Current Case Law and Legislative Update
-
Roadmap for Navigating the Approval Process
- Authority for Land Use Decisions
- Local, Regional, and State Approvals
- Comprehensive Plan
- Regional Impact
- Subdivisions
- Rezonings: Zoning Changes or Amendments
- Variances, Special Uses, and Conditional Uses
- The Permitting Process
- State Building Code
- Nonconforming Uses
- Permits and Certificates
- Environmental Review
- Vested Rights
- Estoppel
- Moratoria
-
Constitutional Limitations on Zoning Actions
- Zoning as a Form of Governmental Power
- Takings and Exactions
- Due Process
- Equal Protection
- Property Rights and Police Power
-
Challenging or Appealing an Administrative Zoning Decision
- Procedural Requirements
- Standing Issues
- Trial of an Administrative Appeal
- Strategies
- Local Government Perspective
- Judicial Review of Local Decision
- Litigating a Zoning Case
- Declaratory Action
- Trial Strategies
- Use of Experts
- Local Government Perspective
- Mandamus, Prohibition, and Injunction
- Federal Pre-emption
-
Adoption and Amendment of Zoning Ordinance and Map
- Source of Zoning Authority
- Zoning Procedures Law
- Notice Issues
- Hearing Issues
- Standards
- Local Issues and Impact Fees
-
Dealing with Special Zoning Issues
- Exclusionary Zoning
- Contract Zoning and Conditional Zoning
- Local Economic Development
- Smart Growth
- The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
- Historic Preservation and Overlay District Zoning
-
Ethics in Zoning and Land Use Law
- Administrative Land Use Matters
- Legislative Land Use Matters
- Complying With the Code of Professional Responsibility
- Identifying and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
- From the Standpoint of the Government Lawyer
- Ex Parte Contacts With Decision Makers
Who Should Attend
This basic-to-intermediate level online seminar will assist the following in understanding and working with zoning and land use regulations:
- Attorneys
- City and urban planners
- Developers
- Engineers
- Architects
- Local zoning and land use officials
- Appraisers
- Surveyors
Speakers
Speaker bio
Jeffrey T. Morris
is an attorney with The Law Offices of Jeffrey T. Morris, where he practices in the areas of zoning, construction, and business and commercial litigation matters. He represents lenders in state, federal and bankruptcy courts, as well as corporate, transactional and construction litigation matters. Mr. Morris is a member of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny (member, Construction Dispute Resolution Group) and American bar associations, as well as the American Arbitration Association (Commercial Arbitration Panel). He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mr. Morris earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Speaker bio
Neil A. Stein
is an attorney and principal at Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He has represented landowners, developers, institutions and non-profit groups for over 30 years in each and every phase of real estate law, including complex transactions, entity structuring, financing, land use approvals, land use litigation, eminent domain and real estate tax appeals. Mr. Stein is currently an adjunct professor of real estate law at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and lectures frequently to professional organizations. He also serves on the Legal Action Committee of the National Association of Home Builders, chair of the Political Action Committee, and a director of the Homebuilders Association of Bucks/Montgomery counties. In 2015, Mr. Stein was inducted into the HBA Hall of Fame. He has also served as a director and member of the Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association. Mr. Stein has been designated as a Super Lawyer by Philadelphia Magazine in multiple years, as well as being recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America. He graduated magna cum laude from Temple University with a Bachelors of Business Degree in accounting and economics; is a cum laude graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law; and holds a Masters of Law degree (LL.M.) in taxation. Mr. Stein also served as research editor of the Temple Environmental Law Journal.
Speaker bio
Brendan A. O'Donnell
is an attorney in Houston Harbaugh, P.C.'s oil and gas practice. He maintains a diverse practice, representing clients in all matters involving oil and gas spanning the transactional and litigation realms. On the transactional front, Mr. O'Donnell routinely assists landowners with negotiating oil and gas leases, pipeline rights of way and surface use agreements and subsurface easements related to horizontal drilling as part of Marcellus and Utica shale development. He also frequently reviews royalty statements and oil and gas ownership issues as well as preparing deeds and title curative documents. Mr. O'Donnell complements his oil and gas practice by representing property owners, including oil and gas owners, in zoning and land use matters. He earned his B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. O'Donnell is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S. District Court for the Western and Middle districts of Pennsylvania, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third and Sixth circuits.
Speaker bio
Leslie Peters
is of special counsel at Bowles Rice LLP. She is an accomplished real estate attorney with vast experience in commercial real estate transactions, land use and zoning, leasing and development. She practices from the firm's Southpointe, Pennsylvania office. She represents a variety of clients, including real estate development companies, local and national retailers, landowners, builders, and more. She is experienced in leasing, property acquisition and sales, zoning, planning, and land development matters. Ms. Peters also represents clients before municipal boards and authorities as well as local planning commissions, governing bodies, zoning hearing boards, and local courts in land use and planning matters. Additionally, she regularly assists clients with obtaining municipal and state approvals, the creation and operation of planned communities as well as financing for commercial and residential developments. Ms. Peters has represented various corporate entities in tax assessment appeals in various counties throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. She is also experienced in managing labor and employment matters and hospitality-related issues, such as liquor licensing. She earned her B.A degree from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D degree, magna cum laude, from Widener University School of Law.
Speaker bio
Zachary A. Sivertsen
practices land use and zoning, real estate, litigation, construction, and municipal law at Eastburn and Gray, PC. He works out of the firm's Blue Bell, Montgomery County, and Doylestown, Bucks County offices. Mr. Sivertsen has appeared on behalf of clients before zoning hearing boards and municipal governing bodies in land development matters, zoning appeals, and applications for zoning variances. He has represented municipalities in litigation matters, drafted municipal ordinances, filed and responded to right-to-know requests, and worked with local historic architectural review bodies. Mr. Sivertsen has litigated matters on behalf of private and municipal clients before the courts of common pleas, magisterial district courts, Commonwealth Court, as well as the United States Bankruptcy Court. He is a regular contributor to the firm's popular Pennsylvania Real Estate and Municipal Law blog, www.pazoninglawyers.com. Mr. Sivertsen is a member of the Bucks County Bar Association, the Montgomery Bar Association, the Real Estate Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Planning Association. He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in New Jersey. Mr. Sivertsen served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Matthew D. Carrafiello of the Orphan's Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia and the Honorable Alice Beck Dubow, then of the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. Mr. Sivertsen received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia. While at Temple he served as a member of the Temple Law Review and as a teaching assistant in the Integrated Transactional Program. Mr. Sivertsen earned an undergraduate degree, with Honors, in urban and regional studies and a Master of Regional Planning degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
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