Specialist
Chris focuses on assisting commercial and residential clients and other landowners with a variety of matters, including land use, zoning, and development, before municipal planning commissions, governing bodies, and zoning hearing boards.
Chris conducts zoning and development-related code and ordinance research and analysis. 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.
As a certified planner (American Institute of Certified Planners), 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), 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.
Chris has nearly 30 years of community and land use planning, zoning, and development experience and relationships, working in both the public and private sectors while representing 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.
Explore recent thought leadership, news, and other updates.
McNees attorneys will present at the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) 2026 Annual Educational Conference, held April 19-22, 2026, at Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pennsylvania. PSATS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan member service organization that provides a unified voice for Pennsylvania townships. The annual conference brings together township officials, local government professionals, and industry […]
“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 […]
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: […]
Real Estate attorney Esch McCombie and Land Planning Specialist Chris Knarr from McNees’ real estate practice presented before professionals and members of the Housing and Development Authorities of Cumberland County for the organization’s annual Cumberland County Community Development Conference: Real Estate, Land Use, & Funding Solutions.
Represents developers in land use and zoning matters. Advises on municipal approvals for industrial, distribution, energy, utility, retail, mixed use, and residential projects.
Trial attorney and practice leader, representing businesses in high-stakes commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, and pipeline-energy infrastructure matters.
Represents landowners and developers in real estate disputes involving land use, title claims, easements, purchase agreements, and home construction.
Represents businesses and individuals in commercial litigation matters, with a focus on eminent domain and real estate litigation, as well as post-trial and appellate practice.
