Amee S. Farrell

Principal

E-Mail: afarrell@kaplaw.com
Phone: 610-941-2547
Fax: 610-684-2010
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Assistant: Sandra M. Lagan slagan@kaplaw.com

Amee Smith Farrell is a principal of the firm and a member of the Land Use, Zoning & Development Department. She concentrates her practice in the areas of land use, land development and zoning of commercial, public and residential real estate. Amee represents both corporate and private individuals throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey before municipal boards and state and federal agencies and in state courts. Amee works hand-in-hand with the project team to procure local, state, and federal approvals throughout all aspects of the land development, construction, and occupancy process.

Amee devotes a substantial portion of her practice to zoning and land use approvals in Philadelphia. Because Philadelphia is not subject to the same set of rules and regulations as its neighboring suburban counties, the development and approval process in Philadelphia is distinctly different than that of its counterparts. Amee regularly represents large developers, small business owners, and private individuals before the Zoning Board of Adjustment and assists her clients in all aspects of the Civic Design Review and Land Development processes.

Prior to joining the firm, Amee was a member of the design staffs at Daley + Jalboot Architects and Cope Linder Associates, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she gained extensive experience in the design and construction of public and private projects in and around the Philadelphia area, with special focus on public bidding and oversight of multi-prime construction projects.

Putting her prior architectural experience to good use, a significant portion of Amee’s practice focuses on responsibilities under the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and the International Building Codes. She assists developers in procuring the necessary approvals to undertake development projects and works with developers throughout the construction process to ensure municipal compliance with applicable building code regulations for timely procurement of construction permits and certificates of occupancy.

Practice Areas

• Easements
• Land Use, Zoning, and Development
• Building Codes
• Outside Agency Permitting
• Philadelphia Zoning
• Subdivision and Land Development Approvals
• Tax Assessment Appeals and Exemptions
• Zoning
• Permitting
• Regulatory Compliance
• Site Development and Brownfield Redevelopment

Representative Experience

• Procurement of all use and signage approvals throughout Philadelphia for a national retail company expanding to multiple locations in Center City Philadelphia.
• Procurement of all zoning and land development approvals for a franchisee redeveloping commercial franchises at multiple suburban locations in Montgomery and Bucks counties.
• Successful negotiation of tax assessment appeals for several commercial and residential clients, each resulting in substantial reductions in proposed assessment amounts.

Community Involvement

• Cheltenham Township Zoning Hearing Board, 2008-2022 (Chair 2013-2022)
• Founding Board Member, Professional Women in Construction, Philadelphia Chapter, 2018-2023
• President, Professional Women in Construction, Philadelphia Chapter, 2020-2023
• Board of Directors, National Association of Professional Women in Construction, 2022-present