Ronald J. Patterson

Ron is the chair of the zoning and land use practice group. His practice concentrates on zoning and land use matters, as well as on other land use and environmental regulatory, permitting and counseling issues.

Ron deals directly with obtaining all of the necessary zoning, use, building and other development-related permits and approvals from the relevant City agencies that enable a person to build or renovate a building, and operate a business. He meets with and obtains comments and approvals from various City agencies, including Licenses & Inspections, the Planning Commission, Streets Department, Water Department, Redevelopment Authority, PIDC, Historical Commission, Art Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and other City departments. He also interacts directly with local community groups and elected officials to gain their support or to eliminate opposition to a proposed project. Once zoning approvals are obtained, he assists in filing for and obtaining other necessary building-related permits, operational licenses, and available 10-year real estate tax abatements. Ron has an engineering degree and worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, better enabling him to work closely with architects, engineers and construction professionals in order to understand, tailor and modify the necessary plans that comprise the applications, permits and approvals. He is also experienced in reviewing and coordinating preliminary environmental investigations and remediation programs.

Ron is a board member of Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, member of the Packer Park Civic Association, Executive Board, a founding member of the Penrose Area Civic Association that covers most of southwest Philadelphia, and a former member of the Zoning and Business Development Subcommittee of the former Eastwick PAC that oversaw development in the Eastwick/Southwest Philadelphia Area pursuant to the federal Eastwick Urban Renewal Plan of 1956. In addition, he is counsel to two Democratic Wards in Southwest Philadelphia. He also served on Mayor Michael Nutter’s Administration’s Subcommittee on Zoning Board Policy.

Co-author, “New City Approach to Restaurant Streeteries,” June 13, 2024

Co-author, “L&I Issues Guidance on Construction Permit Expiration,” June 12, 2024

Co-author, “L&I Initiatives on Worker Certifications and Licensing of Contractors and Subcontractors,” May 28, 2024

Co-author, “Using the Zoning Code for a Historically Designated Property to Your Advantage,” May 22, 2024

Co-author, “The City of Philadelphia Releases Construction Work and Permit Bulletin Codes,” May 6, 2024

Quoted, “A new hotel is planned for the Philadelphia Mills area in Northeast Philadelphia,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 2023

Presenter, “BIA Education: Zoning 101,” Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, June 15, 2023

Mentioned, “New Bankroll sports bar has lost a court case brought by angry neighbors, but it remains open,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 28, 2023.

Panelist, “Understanding Philadelphia Zoning 2021,” continuing legal education webinar, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, May 14, 2021

Author, “Philadelphia Real Estate Development and Affordable Housing,” March 1, 2021

Quoted, “Philly Council Passes Resolution to Give Itself More Power Over Development,” WHYY Plan Philly, February 4, 2021

Quoted, “Philadelphia Sites Selling at Torrid Pace as Developers Bank on City’s Post-Pandemic Rebound,” Philadelphia Business Journal, December 10, 2020.

Author, “ZBA Issues Emergency Regulations – Virtual Public Hearing to Begin,” June 23, 2020

Author, “Philadelphia L&I Rescinds Order on Limited Construction Hours,” May 13, 2020

Presenter, “What You Need to Know and Do Before Construction Resumes on May 1,” April 29, 2020

Author, “Real Estate, Zoning & Land Use Updates,” March 15, 2020

• Strategizing and counseling to obtain by-right Zoning Permits and navigating complex and simple projects for multi-layered land use approvals.
• Representing clients at all City Department levels, including Licenses & Inspections, Streets Department, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Art Commission, Historical Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Board of Building Standards, Board of Licenses and Review, Fire and Safety Board, as well as Philadelphia Municipal Court, and Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.
• Presenting cases for variance relief at the ZBA.
• Representing developers in obtaining permits and approvals necessary for construction of office buildings, parking garages, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects in all sections of Philadelphia.
• Representing large and small developers of vacant non-residential properties for residential uses, the conversion of non-residential buildings to residential and the construction of new houses in Philadelphia.
• Orchestrating and navigating developers through the Philadelphia City Council legislative process to obtain zoning ordinances for the by-right zoning of large-scale development projects.
• Counseling and drafting of City Council Zoning Ordinances.
• Preparing Equal Opportunities Plans.
• Obtained and continues to secure, all development approvals regarding regarding Penn Medicine’s Pavilion Hospital.
• Securing approvals for residential/commercial in Center City Philadelphia and for Delaware River Waterfront projects.
• Obtaining zoning, building and other development and licensing approvals for high-profile restaurant, nightclub and entertainment clients.
• Reviewing and preparing due diligence reviews.
• Preparing Land Use Opinion Letters for Lender’s Counsel.
• Urban Redevelopment issues.