The case of Ginsburg Development Companies, L.L.C v. Township of Harrison stands for the proposition that a developer can be responsible for the cost of off-site improvements that are made prior to the construction of the proposed development. This is an unpublished opinion decided by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.
A recent article in the National Law Journal reports that class actions have been filed in California and Washington State federal courts against four major real estate title and escrow companies. The suits claim that the title companies charged customers for work completed by other companies involved in the settlement process, led them to pay increased fees for unnecessary services and profited from interest earned from funds escrowed during settlements. This is just another example in the long list of suits filed across the country against title companies that question their business practices and fee structure.
This podcast will discuss deemed approvals in zoning matters under Pennsylvania law. According to a study conducted by Warton, the Philadelphia region has some of the most stringent zoning regulations in the country. An understanding of the time frames in which local zoning and planning boards are required to act within is important for developers to understand. By using these time requirements effectively and being sure not to take any actions which can be viewed as a waiver of your rights, developers can at times obtain deemed approvals for projects.
You can download a copy of this podcast here.
