“Right-to-Know” Law Will Impact Zoning, Land Use Issues in Pennsylvania

Harrisburg Attorney anticipates land development changes from new “Right-to-Know” law

(Harrisburg, PA) — As the revised 1957 Right-to-Know Law moves to the Governor’s desk, land use Attorney J. Stephen Feinour says that the new law will likely soon impact on the way business is conducted in a wide range of zoning, land use, and real estate issues across the state.

“We can anticipate the new Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law will impact on important areas of land use and development.” Feinour said today. “There will be fees attached to gain access to public information, as well as the need for arbitration in future conflicts over right to access.” He added. “A key provision of the bill is the creation of the Office of Open Records that will provide an alternate appeal review location and hopefully make the it somewhat easier for open records challenges. It increases the penalties for non-compliance with the law for an agency and an official. It also contains a specific provision for making state contract information publicly available for search on line.”

Feinour, a corporate and business attorney and partner in the prestigious Harrisburg firm Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall, LLP, said he will comment on the impact of “Right-to-Know,” as the law is finalized, during an upcoming seminar on zoning and land use in Allentown, PA on March 5, 2008.

“The purpose of the seminar is to address critical issues impacting developers, attorneys, engineers, architects, developers and land use officials,” he said. “I’ll also have a few comments about the impact of the new law.”

Feinour regularly represents individuals, corporations and related business entities in asset sales and acquisitions, real estate transactions, eminent domain, and land use planning/zoning matters. He currently serves as the Solicitor for Camp Hill Borough and the Borough of Paxtang.

“We will soon see how the new law impacts land use in Pennsylvania, but I think we can anticipate significant change in the way private entities interact with government, at every level, in the future.”