Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Partners, Kirk B. Burkley and Kit F. Pettit, recently helped rural Pennsylvanian’s maintain their private property rights to develop oil and gas. Kirk and Kit attended a public hearing held by the Zoning Hearing Board of New Sewickley Township to address an appeal challenging the substantive validity of the Township’s amended Oil and Gas Ordinance. The challenger claimed that the ordinance was contrary to law and unconstitutional. Kirk and Kit intervened on behalf of numerous local farmers and property owners who previously leased their lands for oil and gas development and production.
By intervening in this quasi-judicial proceeding, the rights of our clients and many other interested parties were defended and protected. Prior to testimony on Wednesday, the landowner seeking to cause the ordinance to be declared unconstitutional withdrew the challenge. Our team was very pleased to have helped the local farmers and other clients in New Sewickley Township present a united front and express their support of responsible natural gas development in their community.
“We believe that our clients’ preparation and willingness to fight the Substantive Validity Challenge was a major factor in the plaintiff’s withdrawal,” added Burkley.
