A Municipality's Struggle to Remove Resident's Junk Vehicles: How to Avoid a Fight Over Blight
Prohibiting a use on paper is one thing, ensuring ordinance compliance is another. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in Township of Cranberry v. Spencer, Nos. 568, 569, and 570-CD-2022 (Pa. Cmwlth. Aug. 30, 2023) (Spencer II) recently considered one municipality's decades long battle over operation of a junkyard in violation of its zoning ordinance.
October 12, 2023 at 11:54 AM
8 minute read
Land Use and PlanningA frequent, if folksy, recitation of the purpose behind zoning and land use restrictions is to prevent problems caused by the "pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard." In other words zoning regulations recognize sometimes a nuisance can be caused by putting the right thing in the wrong place. Therefore, zoning ordinances attempt to keep more "offensive uses" away from more sensitive uses. However, prohibiting a use on paper is one thing, ensuring ordinance compliance is another. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in Township of Cranberry v. Spencer, Nos. 568, 569, and 570-CD-2022 (Pa. Cmwlth. Aug. 30, 2023) (Spencer II) recently considered one municipality's decades long battle over operation of a junkyard in violation of its zoning ordinance. A review of the history of this case provides the opportunity to consider the pros and cons of different enforcement options available to municipalities when faced with ongoing violations.
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