Before you purchase commercial property, you should speak with a Conshohocken zoning and land use attorney. Commercial property is a substantial investment and you want to ensure that the investment is in your best interests to make. Doing your due diligence before the purchase so you know as much about the land as possible is going to be the key to ensuring the investment is likely to pay off. 

Curley & Rothman, LLC has extensive experience providing advice on investment properties to clients throughout Conshohocken and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. We understand local zoning and land use rules and can provide you with comprehensive guidance and advice at every phase of your real estate transaction. Give us a call before you buy commercial real estate so we can get started looking out for your interests.

Why is it Important to Talk to a Zoning and Land Use Attorney

There are a lot of different reasons to talk with a zoning and land use attorney, but all of those reasons essentially boil down to two basic issues: can you do what you want with the property and how much cost and complexity is involved in doing what you want with the property.

Zoning is going to largely determine whether you are able to do what you want with a commercial property.  The Montgomery Township Department of Zoning and Planning indicates its mission is to: "To preserve and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses within the community through the enforcement of the codes and ordinances of the township; to be sensitive to the needs of the community while involved in planning and redevelopment; to serve the community as we would ourselves." This Department enforces rules and requirements which protect property values and serve the needs of residents- but which restrict what developers and land owners can do with the properties that they have purchased.

You will need to ensure that the property you are considering purchasing is zoned for the particular use that you desire. For example, if you want to develop single family homes on the property, you will need to find out if the property is zoned residential or not. However, your research needs to go beyond this basic question. You'll also have to find out what restrictions are imposed by zoning and what the zoning density is. The zoning density refers to the ratio of buildings to open spaces. In low density areas, for example, there may be a requirement in place that each house has to be on at least an acre of land. This can affect how much of the land you are able to develop which, in turn, can affect your property value.

A zoning and land use attorney can assist you in conducting comprehensive research into zoning rules and regulations for the land you are looking at. With the help of a legal professional, you can find and interpret all zoning laws and regulations so you will have a clear idea of any restrictions that could interfere with development.

An attorney can also help you to argue for a variance, which would allow a specific type of development or other land use, even if the zoning laws didn't typically permit it. Variances are not always granted, and you don't want to count on this to be able to do what you want; however, if there is a particular plot of land that you really want to develop and you want to go outside of standard zoning rules, it may be worth discussing the possibility of securing a variance with your lawyer.

Getting Legal Help With Zoning and Land Use Issues in Conshohocken

While addressing zoning issues is not the only task that your attorney can help you with, it is one of the most important tasks. A Conshohocken zoning and land use attorney can also help you with other issues as well, such as ensuring that you can run utility lines to the land you are considering developing and understanding requirements for environmental impact studies.

To learn more about the ways in which our legal team can help you during the development process, give us a call at 610-834-8819 or contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how we can help with your case. We care deeply about helping our clients to make smart and informed choices when investing in commercial real estate, and we will be there to advise you and make sure there are no surprises that could affect the value of your purchase. Call now to find out more.