This blog features case law related to real estate, land use, zoning, and municipal law in Pennsylvania

Tag: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Court Approval Required for Borough to Sell Public Park for Mixed Use Development

In this opinion by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Court was asked to determine whether three statutory provisions — the “Donated or Dedicated Property Act” (“DDPA”), the “Project 70 Land Acquisition and Borrowing Act” (“Project 70 Act”), and the Eminent Domain Code — permitted Downingtown Borough (the “Borough”) to sell Borough owned and maintained parkland to private Developers, and to grant Developers easements over portions retained by the Borough. In reversing and remanding the Commonwealth Court’s decision, the Court held the Eminent Domain Code was inapplicable to the Borough’s right to sell properties acquired by condemnation, and court approval was required to sell properties acquired with Project 70 Act funds and to grant easements across park land pursuant to DDPA.

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Sale of First Lot in Development Does Not Strip Developer of Fee Interest in Platted Roads on Subdivision Plan

In this case out of Adams County the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversed the Superior Court’s determination that upon the sale of a single lot in a subdivision development a developer’s interest in the platted roads depicted on the subdivision plan transforms from a fee interest into an easement interest.  Such a determination, the Court found, would absurdly result in an easement without a servient estate, which is not possible.

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