Land Use Blog

On April 30, 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Borough of West Chester v. Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, holding that the Borough’s stormwater charge is a tax — not a valid fee for service — and therefore cannot be collected from a state university immune from taxation. The ruling has immediate […]

Cumberland County, one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania, adopted a new Comprehensive Plan on December 19, 2024 (“Plan”). The Plan is organized around eight principles, identified as the “Cumberland Principles”: Protect the Best First: Safeguard the County’s irreplaceable natural resources. Grow In Not Out: Efficiently accommodate growth in locations with appropriate infrastructure. Housing for All: […]

By Rachel Rowe As artificial intelligence booms and our digital world grows, so does the demand for data centers. In August, Liz Young of The Wall Street Journal published an article about the growth in the data-center market and the increasing demand for these specialized buildings. The article explains the reasons for such demand while […]

We do not often highlight specific projects on this blog, but with the anniversary of 9/11 approaching, it seemed fitting to recognize two development projects in the area that will support our veterans. But first a little background: Given the recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Grants Pass v. Johnson, allowing the enforcement of […]

by Scott Gould, Terry Bossert, Errin McCaulley, Brigid Khuri In April, the Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) took two actions regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), or so-called “forever chemicals,” that could have far-ranging implications. Drinking Water Standards First, USEPA established the first enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals. USEPA established Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCL”) for […]

In the years following the Covid-19 Pandemic, the affordability and availability of homes has become a glaring issue in Pennsylvania and beyond, primarily due to rising interest rates, inflation, labor shortages, and an overall shortage of housing supply. In January 2024, housing listings were down nearly 20% and sales dropped more than 3% year-over-year with […]

“Your parking requirements stink! What do you mean we have to provide 25 times the number of parking spaces than what the ITE says, or we have to get a variance? What is our hardship other than your requirements haven’t been updated in over 50 years? If your parking requirements were a car, they would be considered […]

We would not blame you if you said that dealing with attorneys is not your favorite part of being a municipal official. However, in our defense, people use attorneys because they need help with complicated legal processes and disputes that are often difficult for laypeople to fully understand. Moreover, applications involving convoluted and unnecessary steps […]