Mr. Bagley provides litigation support to municipal developer and municipal authority clients, particularly with regard to zoning, real estate development, sewer tapping fee issues, and ordinance enforcement. He represents clients at all levels of the Commonwealth and Federal court systems, as well as before numerous civil service commissions, zoning hearing boards, and municipal governing bodies.

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Landmark decisions in which he successfully participated include:

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• Montgomery Crossing Associates v. Township of Lower Gwynedd, 758 A.2d 285 (2000) (big box retail development need not be provided for under zoning ordinance);

  

• Camp Ramah in the Poconos, Inc. v. Worcester Township, 743 A.2d 1019 (2000) (day camp not permitted as a “religious” use); and,

  

• William Schenk & Sons v. Northampton, Bucks County, Municipal Authority, 97 A.3d 820 (Commonwealth Court 2014) (municipal authority could seek to recover its construction costs for sewer extension project only through benefits method of assessment or foot frontage method of assessment, or a combination of both).

Representative Matters

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• Retained in 2024 as special counsel by a municipality for a curative amendment case involving a mobile home park.

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• Retained in 2023 as special counsel by Newtown Township, Bucks County for curative amendment case involving apartment building use.
   

• Successfully defended county sewer authority from multi-million dollar liability through a combination of summary judgments and favorable, small settlements.

  

• Negotiated amicable accord between two warring sewer authorities.

     

• Obtained first decision in Pennsylvania protecting emails of township supervisors on personal computers from public access under Right-to-Know Law.

  

• Obtained favorable appellate decision against municipal authority which over-assessed industrial property owners for construction of sewer mains.

  

• Successfully challenged ordinance requiring mandatory connection to sewer system for non-residential properties only.

  

• Successfully defended township from inverse condemnation action by commercial property owner. York Road Realty Co., L.P. v. Cheltenham Township, 136 A.2d 1047 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016).

  

• Obtained zoning approvals for various small businesses before zoning boards in Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Speeches and Publications

 

• “Sign Ordinances After Reed v. Town of Gilbert, Arizona.” Geoffrey L. Beauchamp, Esq., co-presenter. Delaware Valley Municipal Management Association Solicitors’ Workshop. October 20, 2016.

  

• “Solicitor’s Roundtable: Six Signs That Someone May Be About to Litigate With the Township.” 91st Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners. June 24, 2016.

  

• “Group Homes – Zoning and Civil Rights Issues” – Joseph M. Bagley, Esquire and Geoffrey L. Beauchamp, Esquire co-presenters. Delaware Valley Trusts’ Municipal Solicitors’ Workshop. May 16, 2019