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ZONING LAWYER
Lou Anne Demosky, Attorney at Law, offers services as a zoning lawyer/municipal attorney in Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.
Such legal services may include: zoning law, sewage law, condemnation law, right-of-ways, easements, setbacks, contracts, residential zones, agricultural zones, commercial zones, business zones, multi-family dwellings, single-family dwellings, industrial zones, sexually oriented businesses, Sunshine Act, appeals, special exceptions, conditional uses, change of zoning, spot zoning, signage, advertisements, oil wells, gas wells, land use planning, solicitor, non-conforming use, grandfather clause, non-conforming uses, steep slopes, coal mines, stone quarries, variances, and more.
Attorney Demosky also has experience and knowledge in the area of Farmer's Rights; including the Farmer's Rights Act, Agricultural Security Areas, and the heightened protections afforded to farmers from code violations such as nuisances, danger, and/or hazards to the health, safety, and welfare of communities.
Other legal concerns in the area of municipal law can include zoning violations, code violations, enforcement notices, appeal rights, appeal hearings, BOCA Code Regulations, Borough Codes, daily fines for failing to take remedial actions, magistrate hearings, and filing suits in equity.
The various laws which may apply to a specific citizen and/or the land are based upon the empowering entity's Code and the laws that have been adopted by it. Therefore, a carte-blanc approach cannot be utilized in analyzing clients' needs in these areas.
Additionally, municipal governments are given broad discretion in the application of their laws upon citizens. As a result, one property owner may be cited for violating a section of an Ordinance or Code for a certain set of circumstances which exist upon his or her property, and another neighboring or close-by property owner who has the same or similar situation existing on their property may not receive a citation. When this occurs, a property owner may feel discriminated against. However, in most cases, the acts of the empowering governing body are not discriminatory, but rather based upon a specific chain of events which have previously occurred. Therefore, if you believe you have been treated unfairly, you should seek the legal advice of counsel. Keep in mind, though, that in the absence of being the member of a protected class, chances are likely that no discrimination has occurred. Although it may be difficult to accept, the only action that may be able to be taken is reporting the like violation that is occurring elsewhere. Also, becoming educated on police powers should be quite helpful.
If you have been cited for a violation and/or unsure what you are permitted to do on your property and would like to discuss your legal options, please call Demosky Law Offices to schedule a consultation in our Uniontown or Greensburg office.
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