Christen Pionzio Secures Rare Win in Commonwealth Court

One of the challenges zoning lawyers regularly face is fierce opposition.

We are pleased to share the news that one of our top land use and zoning partners, Christen G. Pionzio, who loves a challenge, succeeded for our client. In this case, the opposition was from a neighbor.

Our client sought to subdivide a second residential lot from an unusually narrow residential parcel. Our application involved the complexities of proving a hardship for a variance and called for a nuanced understanding and presentation of relevant caselaw and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

While Christen obtained zoning relief from a Montgomery County zoning hearing board to allow our client to continue, a neighbor appealed and successfully got the trial court to agree.

The case was then sent to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and Christen’s thorough preparation and advocacy before the zoning hearing board set the table for her detailed and vigorous brief that convinced the Court to reverse the trial court, a rare feat.

Because of her advocacy, the Commonwealth Court’s 19-page “Reported” decision will serve as valuable precedent for landowners in the future.