August 29, 2007
Dear Representative,
On behalf of PennEnvironment’s citizen members I am writing in support of House Bill 1787 which will amend Pennsylvania’s Municipalities Planning Code to give residents and township officials a legal remedy in response to unfavorable court decisions against their zoning ordinances.
To date, HB1787 has received bi-partisan support, with forty-eight members of the state House cosponsoring this legislation.
Specifically, HB1787 reforms the curative amendment process in Pennsylvania to set up a new procedure that municipalities may follow when an Appellate Court determines a municipal zoning ordinance is invalid.
This legislation takes important and much-needed steps to promote smart and sustainable land use decisions in the Commonwealth and in our communities, and to ensure that local land use decisions allow for the highest level of public participation and citizen involvement possible. HB1787 will help give municipal officials the ability to appropriately respond to these challenges and address flaws in their zoning ordinances in order to ensure that any proposed development mirrors their land use plans.
I hope that you will support HB1787, and if you are not currently a cosponsor to this legislation become a cosponsor in the near future.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions that you have regarding this legislation or other environmental issues. I look forward to continuing our work together to protect Pennsylvania’s environment.
Sincerely,
David Masur, PennEnvironment Director
