Profile

Chris is a Land Planning Specialist in the Real Estate Group focused on assisting commercial and residential clients and other landowners in a variety of matters land use, zoning and development-related matters, including those before municipal planning commissions, governing bodies and zoning hearing boards. As a certified planner (American Institute of Certified Planners), building code official (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry), and zoning officer (Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials), his work includes assisting clients with all forms of land use, zoning and development-related reviews, approvals, relief, as well as zoning amendments and challenges.

Additionally, as a certified instructor for the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI) and a trainer for Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Chris regularly provides training to planning commissions, zoning officers and other municipal officials on a variety of planning, zoning, and development matters throughout the state.

What does Chris do for Clients?
Chris conducts zoning and development-related code and ordinance researching and analyses. He drafts and compiles all types of land use, zoning and development-related application submission packages including: permits, determinations, relief and amendments.

Chris also attends and presents at public meetings and hearings of planning commissions, zoning hearing boards or governing bodies, including serving as an expert witness.

What sets Chris apart?
Chris has over 25 years of community and land use planning, zoning and development-related experience and relationships, working in both the public and private sectors while representing both municipal and private development clients in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Oklahoma. His professional background as a community development specialist, planner, zoning and codes official, and project manager specifically included working with various local, county, and regional governments, responsible for developing a variety of plans, design standards, implementation strategies, and ordinances; funding coordination; managing a variety of projects; administering and enforcing building, zoning and development codes; and serving as a professional and technical liaison to planning commissions and governing bodies.

How does Chris spend his free time?
Chris enjoys spending time with God, family and friends and coaching youth flag football and baseball. He is also an avid golfer.

EDUCATION

Bloomsburg University, B.A., Geography, concentration in Environmental Planning, 1996

University of Oklahoma, MRCP, Regional and City Planning, 2002

MEMBERSHIPS

Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association

American Planning Association

American Institute of Certified Planners

Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials

AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)

Cumberland County Blighted Properties Reinvestment Board, Secretary 2010 – 2018

Cumberland County Planning Commission, 2008 – 2018, Chairman (Past), Vice-Chairman (Past)

Mechanicsburg Borough Historic and Architectural Review Board, 2008 – 2012

Mechanicsburg Borough Planning Commission, Member 2005 – 2017, Chair (Past) Secretary (Past)

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, 2008 –2014, Chairman (Past), Vice-Chairman (Past)

Main Street Mechanicsburg, Vice-President 2005 – 2008, Board of Directors (Past), Design Committee Chairman (Past)

Certifications:
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), # 020935 January 2020 – December 2021

Building Code Official (BCO); Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,   # 004939, May 2019 – 2022

Certified Zoning Officer (CZO); Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials (PAAZO)  May 2019 – 2022

Certified Trainer (Community Planning, Subdivision Review, Zoning, & Zoning Administration); Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI), 2011 – Present

Contact Info

Practice Groups