Chris is a Land Planning Specialist in the Real Estate Group focused on assisting commercial and residential clients and other landowners in a variety of matters land use, zoning and development-related matters, including those before municipal planning commissions, governing bodies and zoning hearing boards. As a certified planner (American Institute of Certified Planners), building code official (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry), and zoning officer (Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials), his work includes assisting clients with all forms of land use, zoning and development-related reviews, approvals, relief, as well as zoning amendments and challenges.
Additionally, as a certified instructor for the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI) and a trainer for Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Chris regularly provides training to planning commissions, zoning officers and other municipal officials on a variety of planning, zoning, and development matters throughout the state.
What does Chris do for Clients?
Chris conducts zoning and development-related code and ordinance researching and analyses. He drafts and compiles all types of land use, zoning and development-related application submission packages including: permits, determinations, relief and amendments.
Chris also attends and presents at public meetings and hearings of planning commissions, zoning hearing boards or governing bodies, including serving as an expert witness.
What sets Chris apart?
Chris has over 25 years of community and land use planning, zoning and development-related experience and relationships, working in both the public and private sectors while representing both municipal and private development clients in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Oklahoma. His professional background as a community development specialist, planner, zoning and codes official, and project manager specifically included working with various local, county, and regional governments, responsible for developing a variety of plans, design standards, implementation strategies, and ordinances; funding coordination; managing a variety of projects; administering and enforcing building, zoning and development codes; and serving as a professional and technical liaison to planning commissions and governing bodies.
How does Chris spend his free time?
Chris enjoys spending time with God, family and friends and coaching youth flag football and baseball. He is also an avid golfer.
Bloomsburg University, B.A., Geography, concentration in Environmental Planning, 1996
University of Oklahoma, MRCP, Regional and City Planning, 2002
Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association
American Planning Association
American Institute of Certified Planners
Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials
AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners)
Cumberland County Blighted Properties Reinvestment Board, Secretary 2010 – 2018
Cumberland County Planning Commission, 2008 – 2018, Chairman (Past), Vice-Chairman (Past)
Mechanicsburg Borough Historic and Architectural Review Board, 2008 – 2012
Mechanicsburg Borough Planning Commission, Member 2005 – 2017, Chair (Past) Secretary (Past)
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, 2008 –2014, Chairman (Past), Vice-Chairman (Past)
Main Street Mechanicsburg, Vice-President 2005 – 2008, Board of Directors (Past), Design Committee Chairman (Past)
Certifications:
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), # 020935 January 2020 – December 2021
Building Code Official (BCO); Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, # 004939, May 2019 – 2022
Certified Zoning Officer (CZO); Pennsylvania Association of Zoning Officials (PAAZO) May 2019 – 2022
Certified Trainer (Community Planning, Subdivision Review, Zoning, & Zoning Administration); Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI), 2011 – Present
February 23, 2023 - Vertical Farming on the (Vertical) Horizon?
McNees Land Use Blog
August 30, 2022 - Quit Bossin’ Us Around: Oh Wait, You’re Not
McNees Land Use Blog
December 21, 2021 - Schrute Farm and PA’s Agritourism Protection Act
McNees Land Use Blog
August 17, 2021 - Agrivolatics: Two for One – Harvesting Crops and Solar
McNees Land Use Blog
February 10, 2021 - Home-Based Businesses - Is Your Township Ready for More?
November 6, 2020 - Building a Successful Planning Commission
April 15, 2019 - Finding Valuable Commercial Space Under Parking Lots
April 15, 2019 - If Everyone Hates Sprawl, Why Does it Keep Happening?
March 6, 2019 - Pennsylvania Municipal Planning
July 19, 2018 - Subdivision and Land Development
March 17, 2018 - PSATS NEO Boot Camp - Planning
October 24, 2017 - Oh S***, How Did This Happen?
October 11, 2017 - PSATS Municipal Government Academy (PMGA) Planning Primary Course
March 16, 2017 - Course in Zoning
March 5, 2016 - PSATS NEO Boot Camp
October 22, 2015 - Course in Subdivision and Land Development Review