Category: Published Court Decisions

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirmed a Court of Common Pleas determination reversing the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment’s order granting Conrail variances to erect  outdoor advertising signs on its property adjacent to Interstate Route I-95 in South Philadelphia.

The primary issue here was whether substantial evidence supported the Board’s findings that Conrail would suffer unnecessary hardship if the variances were denied.

Noting that the burden of proof falls squarely on the party seeking a variance, the Court held that Conrail was unable to show unnecessary hardship because it could not show any unique physical circumstances or conditions justifying the variance.

Continue reading Scenic Philadelphia and FDR Park v. Zoning Board of Philadelphia — 772 A.2d 1040

Scenic Philadelphia, Mary Crawley Tracy, Old City Civic Association, and Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council V. The Zoning Board of Adjustment, the City of Philadelphia, Callowhill Center Associates and Metro Lights, LLC

The Commonwealth Court affirmed a trial court decision reversing the Board’s decision to grant a variance because the applicants did not suffer an undue hardship. Noting that the property would maintain 70 – 80% occupancy without the variance, the Court determined that the fact that the variance would allow the property owner to raise additional funds to pay for needed renovations does not meet the level of undue hardship.

In making this determination, the Court noted relied on the rule that financial hardship alone is not a sufficient basis for granting a variance; a variance will only be granted if they are able to show that property will be rendered valueless. Thus, property owners do not have a right to utilize land for their highest and best financial gain. The loss of rental income from disallowed outdoor advertising signs was not an unnecessary hardship, so the Trial Court was correct in overturning the Board’s decision to grant a variance.

Continue reading Scenic Phila v. Zoning Bd. of Phil: 417 N. 7th St Wall Wrap

Scenic Philadelphia v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia, The City of Philadelphia and Revere National Corporation

In this case, the Court rejected Applicant’s argument that it suffered undue hardship because its property was not well-suited for industrial use by noting alternative industrial uses for the property.

To reach this goal it examined the elements that a party seeking a variance must prove: (1) that unnecessary hardship will result if the variance is denied, and that the hardship must be unique or peculiar to the property as distinguished from a hardship arising from the impact of zoning regulations on an entire district, and (2) that the proposed use will not be contrary to the public interest. Relying on these rules, it held that a property that was zone for industrial use did not suffer undue hardship when there were economically viable uses for the property.

Continue reading 1200 Byberry — 713 A.2d 135 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1998)

Scenic Philadelphia, Appellant v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City and County of Philadelphia and Revere National Corporation

Continue reading 1200 Byberry — Taxpayer Standing 682 A.2d 1 (Pa. Commw. 1996)

Scenic Philadelphia, Mary Cawley Tracy, Councilman David Cohen, Carol Sander and The Bridesburg Civic Association, (Appellants) V. Zoning Hearing Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia, The City of Philadelphia, Arsenal Business Center and Eller Media

Continue reading 2275 Bridge Street (Frankford Arsenal) — 858 A.2d 679 (Pa. Commw. 2004)

Scenic Philadelphia, Mary Cawley Tracy, Councilman David Cohen V. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia, The City of Philadelphia, Eller Media Company, Chirley Pilkingston

Continue reading 2246 Bridge Street — 814 A.2d 847 (Pa. Commw. 2003)

Scenic Philadelphia, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation Food Distribution Center, Inc. (PIDC-FDC, Inc.), Center City Residents Association, Mary Tracy, Judith Eden v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia, Joseph G. Procacci, Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation

Continue reading Food Distribution District — 729 A.2d 117 (Pa. Commw. 1999)

SPC Company, Inc. and Eller Media Company v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia and The City of Philadelphia Appeal of: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Councilman David Cohen, Scenic Philadelphia, Mary Tracy, The Center City Residents Association (CCRA) and Judith Eden

Continue reading 2600 Penrose Avenue — 773 A. 2d 209 (Pa. Commw. 2001)

Scenic Philadelphia and Mary Cawley Tracy, Appellants v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, 2900 Ellsworth Associates and Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc.

Continue reading 2900 Ellsworth Avenue — 862 A.2d 745 (Pa.Commw. 2004)

Scenic Philadelphia, Center City Residents Association (CCRA), Mary Cawley Tracy, and Councilman David Cohen, Estate of Samuel Rappaport v. Zoning Board of Adjustment, City of Philadelphia, and Outdoor Works and Estate of Samuel Rappaport. Appeal of: Outdoor Works

Continue reading 726 Market Street — 831 A.2d 1255 (Pa. Commw. 2003)

Scenic Philadelphia, Mary Cawley Tracy, David Cohen, Powelton Village Civic Association, Center City Civic Association and Jack Minnis v. Zoning Board of Adjustment, City of Philadelphia, Amtrak National Railroad Passenger Corp., and Interstate Outdoor Advertising; Appeal of: Amtrak National Railroad Passenger Corp. and Interstate Outdoor Advertising

Continue reading 200′ West of Schuylkill Expressway — 787 A.2d 1123 (Pa. Commw. 2001)

Scenic Philadelphia and Mary Cawley Tracy, Appellants v. Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia and Oregon Avenue Associates and Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc.

Continue reading 12 Oregon Avenue — 862 A.2d 731 (Pa. Commw. 2004)