Overview

Brandon Savran is a seasoned real estate attorney focusing on zoning and land-use issues in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, with experience pursuing subdivision of land and the establishment of condominiums and Planned Unit Developments (also known as Planned Communities or PUDs). He frequently represents clients before the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and other government agencies in Philadelphia and its suburbs and routinely works with clients to facilitate their development goals and entitlements. Furthermore, Brandon has significant experience pursuing and defending zoning and land use appeals litigation in the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas and Commonwealth Court. He has years of practice in the field of municipal development review and has obtained permits for the new construction and renovation of residential, commercial and institutional buildings, as well as associated signage and parking facilities.

Brandon is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area. He navigates development projects from blueprints to reality by leading clients and their consultants through government reviews and by recommending design choices derived from his knowledge of technical codes and the preferences often expressed by local elected officials and community leadership. He takes pride in helping clients balance protected property rights while pursuing critical and beneficial partnership with public stakeholders.

Representative Experience

  • Obtained zoning permit for conversion of portion of historic office building in Center City, Philadelphia to 281 dwelling units.
  • Obtained zoning permits for portfolio of three executive-stay hotels in Center City, Philadelphia, necessitated by changes to City regulations on short-term rental units.
  • Represented client before Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to subdivide former catholic school building from adjacent church and rehabilitate school building into 16 dwelling units.
  • Represented owner of large parcel in Kensington, Philadelphia before Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to construct 36 dwelling units.
  • Authored Declaration of Planned Community dividing client’s restored historic residence in Germantown, Philadelphia into four residential units and delineating private and common facilities on surrounding grounds
  • Represented operator of restaurant on prominent Center City street before Philadelphia Art Commission, obtaining approval to erect two new illuminated signs.
  • Despite opposition from local community organizations, represented client before Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to legalize three illuminated building identification signs on Center City high-rise that had been mistakenly erected without zoning permits.
  • Successfully represented owner of large parcel in Roxborough, Philadelphia in an appeal against the Department of Licenses and Inspections to obtain various favorable procedural and substantive determinations, including under the Philadelphia Steep Slope Protection ordinance.
  • Successfully represented owner of apartment building in South Philadelphia in an appeal against the Department of Licenses and Inspections to establish legal nonconforming status of building through the use of historical records to establish prior permitting by City and long-term continuous use.
  • Successfully defended owner of parcel in Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia in an appeal filed against his zoning variances that approved an apartment building and accessory parking. After arguing that components of the design were necessary to ensure safety of residents, obtained an order from the Court of Common Pleas defeating the appeal on the merits.
  • Represented national operator of emergency veterinary practices before zoning hearing board of suburban Philadelphia township and successfully obtained variance to locate new facility in regionally-prominent shopping center.
  • Successfully represented operator of scattered-site homes for disabled adults in special exception application before suburban Philadelphia township by establishing a viable claim of ADA violations, and by discrediting testimony offered by neighbor-objectors as speculative using expert witnesses.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Member, Philadelphia Bar Association- Zoning, Land Use and Code Enforcement Committee of the Real Property Section

Professional Recognition

  • Member, Lambda Alpha International (Land Economics Society)

Representative Experience

  • Obtained zoning permit for conversion of portion of historic office building in Center City, Philadelphia to 281 dwelling units.
  • Obtained zoning permits for portfolio of three executive-stay hotels in Center City, Philadelphia, necessitated by changes to City regulations on short-term rental units.
  • Represented client before Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to subdivide former catholic school building from adjacent church and rehabilitate school building into 16 dwelling units.
  • Represented owner of large parcel in Kensington, Philadelphia before Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to construct 36 dwelling units.
  • Authored Declaration of Planned Community dividing client’s restored historic residence in Germantown, Philadelphia into four residential units and delineating private and common facilities on surrounding grounds
  • Represented operator of restaurant on prominent Center City street before Philadelphia Art Commission, obtaining approval to erect two new illuminated signs.
  • Despite opposition from local community organizations, represented client before Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and successfully obtained variances to legalize three illuminated building identification signs on Center City high-rise that had been mistakenly erected without zoning permits.
  • Successfully represented owner of large parcel in Roxborough, Philadelphia in an appeal against the Department of Licenses and Inspections to obtain various favorable procedural and substantive determinations, including under the Philadelphia Steep Slope Protection ordinance.
  • Successfully represented owner of apartment building in South Philadelphia in an appeal against the Department of Licenses and Inspections to establish legal nonconforming status of building through the use of historical records to establish prior permitting by City and long-term continuous use.
  • Successfully defended owner of parcel in Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia in an appeal filed against his zoning variances that approved an apartment building and accessory parking. After arguing that components of the design were necessary to ensure safety of residents, obtained an order from the Court of Common Pleas defeating the appeal on the merits.
  • Represented national operator of emergency veterinary practices before zoning hearing board of suburban Philadelphia township and successfully obtained variance to locate new facility in regionally-prominent shopping center.
  • Successfully represented operator of scattered-site homes for disabled adults in special exception application before suburban Philadelphia township by establishing a viable claim of ADA violations, and by discrediting testimony offered by neighbor-objectors as speculative using expert witnesses.