Brett D. Feldman

Brett concentrates on zoning and land use matters with a focus on obtaining the necessary permits and approvals that enable a developer to build or renovate a building, construct a dwelling or open or expand a business. As part of this process, he works closely with various City agencies including the Planning Commission, Department of Licenses & Inspections, Streets Department, Historical Commission, Art Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Philadelphia Water Department, as well as City Council. Drawing on his extensive planning background and community involvement, he also works directly with local community groups and elected officials to secure their support for his clients’ projects. Once zoning approvals are obtained, he assists in obtaining necessary building-related permits, operational licenses, and tax abatements.

Brett’s practice includes:

• Representing numerous national chain and local restaurants for zoning, building and other development and licensing approvals. Restaurants include Starbucks Coffee, Papa John’s Pizza, Rita’s Water Ice, Olive Garden, Domino’s Pizza, Au Bon Pain Sandwiches, Potbelly Sandwiches, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, California Tortilla, Fado, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Bruegger’s Bagels and Buca di Beppo
• Representing universities, hospitals, hotels and charter schools with regard to the permits and approvals necessary to open or expand
• Representing owners of industrial properties in their efforts to redevelop property for residential, commercial, or retail uses
• Obtaining zoning and other land use approvals to develop shopping centers, supermarkets, national pharmacy stores, parking garages, day care centers, hotels, medical office buildings, health clubs, outdoor advertising signs, and laundromats
• Representing major owners and developers of real estate in connection with real estate tax exemptions, abatements and assessment appeals

Moderator, “Housing in Philadelphia: A History of Racial Segregation and a Discussion of How We Move Forward to Promote More Fair and Equitable Housing Policies,” Accredited CLE Program, June 16, 2021

Moderator, “The Philadelphia Land Use and Zoning Approval Process During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” April 23, 2020

Course Instructor, Citizens Planning Institute, Fall 2019 Course “Zoning 2.0”, October 2019

Host and Moderator, “A Roundtable on the Pew 10th Annual State of the City Report”, Philadelphia, PA, May 2019

Host and Moderator, “An Overview of the New Philadelphia Land Bank,” Philadelphia, PA, May 2014

Host and Moderator, “The Story Behind the Current Center City Retail and Commercial Renaissance,” Philadelphia, PA, April 2013

Host and Moderator, “An Overview of the New Philadelphia Zoning Code’s Provisions Concerning the Role of the Community,” Philadelphia, PA, June 2012

Author, “The Importance of Obtaining Support When Seeking Zoning Relief,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 30, 2009

• Represented a major national luxury homebuilder in its on-going residential redevelopment of Center City, Philadelphia that to date has resulted in obtaining approvals to construct nearly one-thousand residential dwelling units
• Represented a major international financial group in its successful land use appeals
• Represented a Fortune 100 company in its land use approvals necessary to expand an existing Pennsylvania manufacturing facility
• Represent developers before Philadelphia City Council and City Planning Commission to obtain rezoning of property that allowed residential and commercial redevelopment to occur
• Obtained approvals in New Jersey for a major international coffee chain store
• Obtained approvals in the Philadelphia suburbs for a major national retailer