Previous postings in this blog have discussed land zoning laws and land use requirements laid out by these laws. However, some residents of Pennsylvania may be wondering what these laws really mean, how they are established and how they are enforced.
What is eminent domain and how does it work?
Readers of this blog may recall posts about the government taking Pennsylvania residents' property using its power of eminent domain. However, this power of the government may not be fully understood and may leave readers asking the following questions:
Property owners angered by eminent domain takings
When the government wants to obtain something on a piece of land privately owned by an individual, company or someone else, they may in some circumstances be able to gain possession of it. As residents of Pennsylvania may or may not be aware, one of the common ways for a state to take ownership of a piece of land or something on it from a property owner is through eminent domain.
Pennsylvania conditional use permit application meets resistance
When a developer in Pennsylvania wants to build a condominium or other type of multiple housing unit, it is important when they pick a location that is properly zoned for that type of building. If it is not, they may be able to get around it by applying for conditional use permits. Although this may seem like a straightforward and easy process, that is not always the case.
