Cheryl L. Gaston, Esq.

Cheryl Gaston has 25+ years of zoning experience in both the public and private sectors and concentrates her practice in the areas of zoning and zoning litigation. Prior to private practice, she served as the Senior Attorney responsible for all Zoning Code matters in Philadelphia and as Counsel to the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Philadelphia from 1992-2008. In that capacity, she was responsible for virtually all zoning litigation involving the City of Philadelphia including extensive appellate court litigation and Constitutional challenges to provisions of the Zoning Code. She was recognized in May 2011 by The Philadelphia Tribune and Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia as a “Top Attorney” (Real Estate) in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2016, Ms. Gaston was appointed by Mayor Kenney to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, a Departmental Commission that reviews and approves the City Comprehensive Plan, proposed zoning ordinances, maps and amendments; capital programs and budgets; and streets and subdivisions.

Ms. Gaston finished serving a third 3-year term on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section in 2017, has Chaired or Co-Chaired its Zoning, Land Use and Code Enforcement Committee for over 20 years and served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair of the Real Property Section in 2011. As such, she was heavily involved in the deliberations on reforming the City’s “New” Zoning Code, suggesting numerous changes ultimately incorporated into the proposed code. Ms. Gaston is the 2012 Recipient of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Harris Ominsky “Good Deed” Award in recognition of her leadership contribution in the adoption of the 2012 Philadelphia Zoning Code. Ms. Gaston also co-authored the article “Entering a New Zone – Philadelphia Zoning Code Revised for the First Time in More Than 50 Years”. The Philadelphia Lawyer, Vol. 75 No. 3 Fall 2012.

Ms. Gaston is a frequent speaker, teacher and course planner of accredited programs for the bench, bar, general public and other public agencies on zoning and land use including: 2018 Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (“PIDC”) small business owner training entitled “Zoning Process Made Easy”; “A Discussion of Zoning ABC’s” 2017 Private Conversations for the First Judicial District’s Common Pleas Court Judges; “Understanding Philadelphia Zoning: An Overview of the Zoning Code in an Ever-Changing Philadelphia” (2015); ”New Developments In Zoning In Philadelphia” (2012); “Overview Of The New Philadelphia Zoning Code” (2012); “The ABC’s of the ZBA” (2009); “Navigating Through The Maze: Helping Real Estate Clients Steer Through The City of Philadelphia’s Approval Process” (2007); “Winning Zoning Cases in Philadelphia” (2006).

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