Alyssa E. Golfieri

Area of Emphasis

Alyssa Golfieri is a shareholder in the Real Estate, Land Use and Zoning, and Corporate and Commercial groups of Babst Calland. Ms. Golfieri assists private and public sector clients primarily on land use and real estate transactions and disputes, with a strong emphasis on zoning, subdivision, and land development.

Ms. Golfieri advises and represents private sector clients on a wide array of land use and real estate related matters, including acquisitions, leases, easements, options, eminent domain matters, subdivisions, lot consolidations, land developments, variances, special exceptions, and conditional use approvals and appeals.  In this role, she assists private entities of various sizes and complexity work through all stages of a transaction, from site selection and due diligence to negotiation of purchase and sales agreements to obtaining all necessary municipal land use approvals and permits, including navigation and, if necessary, defense of opposition and appeals to such permits, and approvals.

In addition, she counsels and represents public sector clients on a wide array of local land use and government issues, including economic development through public-private partnerships, application, award, and use of state and federal grants for water, stormwater, and sewer infrastructure projects, navigation of private property acquisitions (including acquisition through condemnation) required for public infrastructure projects, preparation of zoning and land development ordinances pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, processing of land use and development applications, and defense of land development and zoning decisions before municipal zoning hearing boards and Pennsylvania courts.  Ms. Golfieri has served as a municipal and zoning hearing board solicitor for over twelve years.  She is currently serving as solicitor for Frazer Township, the Frazer Township Authority, Ford City Borough, the Ford City Stormwater Authority, and assistant solicitor for Sewickley Heights Borough.

Ms. Golfieri has successfully represented and obtained favorable decisions for both private and public sector clients on appeals and/or challenges of municipal decisions and approvals before local governing bodies, zoning hearing boards, including the City of Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

The bifurcated private-public sector nature of Ms. Golfieri’s practice allows her the opportunity to offer clients practical and cost-effective strategies and solutions to their legal matters.

Background

Ms. Golfieri earned her B.S. in Crime, Law and Justice, with an emphasis in legal studies from The Pennsylvania State University. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Duquesne University School of Law. During law school, Ms. Golfieri actively participated in the Urban Development Clinic where she earned a Distinction in Clinical Work and gained experience in preparing property tax assessment appeals, drafting deeds, resolving tangled property title issues and combatting blighted and abandoned properties in the surrounding community.

Memberships and Affiliations

Ms. Golfieri is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania as well as before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and American Bar associations and NAIOP. Ms. Golfieri is an American Bar Foundation Fellow.

In 2022, Ms. Golfieri was selected by The Legal Intelligencer as one of only 28 “Lawyers on the Fast Track” in Pennsylvania. This recognition is given to attorneys under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in four categories: development of the law, advocacy and community contributions, service to the bar and peer/public recognition. In addition, she has received a Best Lawyers^®: Ones to Watch recognition from BL Rankings for Land Use and Zoning Law since 2021 and for Municipal Law since 2022. Ms. Golfieri was also selected to the 2022 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list (Thomson Reuters).

Publications/Presentations

• Burroughs, Adam (interviewed by author), “How Buyers Can Avoid Common Zoning and Land Use Pitfalls in Real Estate Transactions,” Smart Business, June 2023.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act – Amendments Effective Today,” Babst Calland Public Sector Alert, May 2, 2023.
• Presenter, “Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law in Pennsylvania – Dealing with Special Zoning Issues,” NBI, December 2023.
• Co-Presenter, “Common Zoning Pitfalls in Real Estate Transactions,” Association of Corporate Counsel, August 2023.
• Co-Presenter, “PA’s New Criminal History Record Information Disclosure Requirements,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, June 2023.
• Burroughs, Adam, (interviewed by author), “How Buyers Can Avoid Common Zoning and Land Use Pitfalls in Real Estate Transactions,” Smart Business, June 2023.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act – Amendments Effective Today,” Babst Calland Public Sector Alert, May 2, 2023.
• Presenter, “Pennsylvania Land Use Law and Eminent Domain for Building Professionals – Zoning Enforcement,” HalfMoon Presentation, September 2022.
• Co-Presenter, “How to Use Your Solicitor Effectively and Efficiently,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Southwest Regional Forum, August 24, 2021.
• Co-Presenter, “Agritainment & Agritourism,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, PAAZO Virtual Fall Seminar, November 4, 2020.
• Author, “Court Provides Clarity on the Applicable Scope of Review in Land Use Appeals,” PA Law Weekly, February 13, 2020.
• Co-Author, “As the Law and Zoning Trends Evolve, So Must Your Zoning Ordinance,” PA Law Weekly, December 19, 2019.
• Co-Presenter, “Zoning Enforcement,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, PAAZO Fall Seminar, November 8, 2019.
• Co-Author, “Third Circ. Clarifies First Amendment Level of Scrutiny of Billboards,” PA Law Weekly, August 22, 2019.
• Co-Author, “Equitable Relief in Land Use and Zoning Matters—Three Main Theories,” PA Law Weekly, April 18, 2019.
• Co-Author, “Municipal Regulation of Agricultural Operations in Pennsylvania,” PA Law Weekly, December 20, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Zoning Hearing Board: Overlooked, Misunderstood or Misapplied Principles,” PA Law Weekly, July 27, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Historic Preservation Through Land Use Controls: What is it? How Does It Work?,” PA Law Weekly, April 16, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Sketch Plan Creates Vested Right to Develop Property in Accordance With Zoning, “PA Law Weekly, October 19, 2017.
• Co-Author, “Court Interprets MPC to Permit Private Cause of Action to Enforce SALDO,” PA Law Weekly, September 5, 2017.
• Co-Author, “Stormwater Management Ordinance Not Land Use Ordinance Under MPC,” PA Law Weekly, June 22, 2017.
• Co-Author, “Established Evidentiary Standards for Special Exception Applications,” PA Law Weekly, February 24, 2017.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Governor Signs Act Authorizing Municipalities to Provide Fire and EMS Volunteers with Tax Credits,” PA Law Weekly, February 10, 2017.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Reiterates Standards When Interpreting Zoning Ordinances,” PA Law Weekly, October 21, 2016.
• Co-Author, “Nonconforming Use Certificates Cannot Extinguish a Nonconforming Use,” PA Law Weekly, August 29, 2016.
• Co-Author, “What Constitutes a Zoning Map Change for Notice Requirements,” PA Law Weekly, June 29, 2016.
• Co-Author, “Court: Oil and Gas Operations Compatible with Agricultural Uses,” PA Law Weekly, June 2, 2016.
• Co-Author, “Municipality’s Obligation to Process Development Plans in Good Faith,” PA Law Weekly, April 24, 2016.
• Co-Author, “Safeguards Against Adverse Zoning Ordinance Activities; Land Use and Planning,” PA Law Weekly, February 18, 2016.
• Co-Author, “Excessive Zoning and Land-Use Fees Subject to Legal Challenge,” PA Law Weekly, January 18, 2016.
• Co-Author, “High Court Clarifies Standing Requirements Before Zoning Bodies,” PA Law Weekly, December 29, 2015.
• Co-Author, “A Governing Body’s Authority to Condition Land Development Plan Approval,” PA Law Weekly, November 3, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Content Neutrality in the Government Regulation of Free Speech,” PA Law Weekly, September 1, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Excessive Zoning and Land-Use Fees Subject to Legal Challenge: Land Use and Planning,” PA Law Weekly, July 7, 2015.
• Co-Author, “EEOC Rules Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation is Sex Discrimination under Title VII,” Babst Calland Employment Bulletin, July 1, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Individual, Collective and Class Action Suits Alleging Misclassification of Oil and Gas Industry Workers Flood the Dockets,” Babst Calland Employment Bulletin, June 1, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Pa. Supreme Court Continues to Clarify Property Right Protections: Land Use & Planning,” PA Law Weekly, April 28, 2015.
• Co-Author, “United States Supreme Court to Offer Clarity on a Municipality’s Ability to Regulate Different Forms of Noncommercial Speech,” PA Law Weekly, February 2015.
• Co-Author, “Established Ordinance Interpretation and Special Exception Standards; Land Use and Planning,” PA Law Weekly, December 16, 2014.
• Co-Author, “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Appropriate Use Variance Standard,” PA Law Weekly, October 21, 2014.
• Co-Author, “Government Interest in Railroad Rights-of-Way,” PA Law Weekly, August 26, 2014.
• Co-Author, “Municipalities Can’t Treat Methadone Facilities Differently From Clinics,” PA Law Weekly, June 10, 2014.
• Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Expands on Nollan and Dolan Takings Decisions,” PA Law Weekly, November 5, 2013.
• Co-Presenter, “Presenting to a Zoning Hearing Board in the Burbs,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, February 2013.