Zoning Adjustment Hearings (lawyer, moving, ordinance)

[Janszoon]

Someone has recently purchased the property next to my driveway and there's one of those orange signs up listing the date of a public hearing. Can anyone offer any information and advice with regard to me attending one of these public hearings? What can I expect? Am I, as a neighbor, allowed to ask questions?

Also, the orange sign says "files may be viewed at the Boards Administration Office", does this mean I would be able to see the building plans? I have some concern about developers trying to sneakily build onto my property or something and would like to set my mind at ease.

I have no experience with this kind of stuff so any help is greatly appreciated.

[MarketStEl]

Yes, you should be able to view plans at the Zoning Board of Adjustment office before the hearing on a variance.

ZBA meetings usually consist of several reviews of variance requests. These usually involve a lawyer representing the petitioner explaining what the petitioner plans to do with the property and why the variance is needed. Members of the board may ask questions about elements of the plan. After the board members get their turn, the chair asks if there is anyone who wishes to comment on the petition. If a local civic or community group (Registered Community Organization, or RCO) has weighed in on the petition, it will give its opinion here, as will any neighbors who wish to speak for or against.

When Lynette Brown-Sow ran the ZBA, she limited public comment to people whose objections didn't just echo those of prior speakers ("Do you have anything new or different to add?" "No." "Next speaker."), and meetings moved along fairly quickly. Her successors have not been as vigilant about keeping things moving, and thus, the meetings now can run for a while; you might want to bring some reading material with you if you decide you need to voice concerns or objections.

[JohnZ963]

Note that the people on the board making the decision have to abide by certain requirements in the zoning ordinance and PA municipalities planning code and are not supposed to be making decisions based upon emotion or subjective factors. They aren't supposed to deny something just because they don't like it.

As these are quasi-judicial hearings, don't be taken aback if a court reporter makes you "swear in" prior to offering public comment.

These hearings can often involve several different applications and can go on for hours, so be prepared for that.

[Janszoon]

Thank you so much for your reply! Do you think I might be able to view the plans at the hearing or at least ask about them?