Stephanie Kobal
Top rated Land Use & Zoning attorney in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.
Practice Areas: Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate, Business & Corporate; view more
Licensed in Pennsylvania since: 2007
Education: Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Selected to Rising Stars: 2017 - 2022 Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.
645 Hamilton StSuite 800
Allentown, PA 18101 Phone: 610-797-9000 Email: Stephanie Kobal Visit website
Details
With almost 20 years of experience as a transactional and zoning/land use attorney, Stephanie A. Kobal is a shareholder in the Firm’s Real Estate, Land Use & Development and Corporate, Business & Banking groups. Throughout her career, Ms. Kobal has worked with organizations of all types and sizes to negotiate complex real estate acquisitions, land development and zoning approvals, and leases. She consistently represents clients in front of government agencies and municipalities regarding land use entitlements for real estate ventures. Her practice also focuses on transactional work, including commercial real estate acquisitions and sales, tax assessment appeals, charter schools, for-profit and nonprofit contractual matters and organizational issues.
Ms. Kobal has successfully obtain zoning and land use approvals for an industrial sales and service facility, a girl scout camp, infill development, and a College lacrosse complex. In addition, Ms. Kobal has successfully handled tax assessment and exemption appeals. In 2023, Ms. Kobal handled approximately 150,000,000 in real estate acquisitions.
Ms. Kobal has based her practice on the core values of strategy, practicality and honesty, which is evident in her relationships with her clients. She understands that each client has his or her own unique needs and goals, and tailors her approach to fit every individual that approaches her.
Practice areas
Land Use/Zoning, Real Estate: Business, Business/Corporate, Employment & Labor: EmployerFirst Admitted: 2007, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.flblaw.com/attorney/stephanie-a-kobal/
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 2018
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2016
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2011
- Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 2007
- Bar of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, 2008
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- On behalf of a local College, I successfully obtained approval for a NCAA lacrosse facility., 2024
- I successfully obtained approvals for an in-fill residential district in a historic district., 2023
- I successfully obtained approval for an expansion of a camp for a non-profit serving girls., 2024
- On behalf of a non-profit entity, I successfully obtained special exception approval for the expansion of a camp facility. This matter was vigorously contested by approximately 70 neighbors, and the hearings spanned approximately 12 hours., 2020
- On behalf of a non-profit museum, I successfully argued for a real estate tax exemption before the County Board of Assessment., 2020
- On behalf of a general contractor, I negotiated the settlement of a breach of contract matter. This matter involved payment of a subcontractor. To settle this matter, I had to coordinate the efforts of several subcontractors. This matter culminated in a settlement, which was very favorable to my client., 2017
- On behalf of a municipal client, I successfully negotiated the settlement of a protracted land use appeal involving the redevelopment of a contaminated site. The negotiation of this settlement was complex and ultimately culminated in a 35 page settlement agreement that detailed not only the use of the site, but the potential impacts of the use of the site on neighboring properties. On behalf of a general contract, I successfully negotiated the settlement of a contract dispute related to a municipal improvement project. The negotiation of this settlement was complex and involved garnering the cooperation and support of several subcontractors., 2015
- On behalf of a client, I successfully negotiated the purchase, from an industrial development authority, of a blighted property, so that my client could construct a manufacturing facility. In addition to the acquisition, I assisted with tax-incentives and the financing of the project., 2024
- On behalf of clients, I successfully negotiated the purchase of over $150,000,000 of industrial real estate., 2023
- On behalf of a commercial client, I successfully negotiated the Agreement of Sale for an iconic office building., 2020
- On behalf of a housing authority, I successfully argued for zoning variances to permit the re-development of a public housing project., 2019
- On behalf of a private client, a car dealer, I successfully handled their conditional use hearing, zoning variance hearing, and all aspects of land development in order to get final land development approval for a large new automobile franchise., 2018
- On behalf of a private client, a hotelier, I drafted a Zoning Ordinance Amendment that promoted redevelopment of blighted properties. This was submitted to the municipality and ultimately approved. This Zoning Ordinance Amendment will allow the redevelopment of almost 100 properties throughout the municipality., 2017
- On behalf of a private client, I successfully negotiated the sale and consolidation of several lots as part of a large complex deal to develop a one-of-a-kind, regional business complex. This transaction involved multiple agreements, easements, municipal approvals, and agreements. This highly complex transaction also involved the coordination of the efforts of the developer, the construction company, the lot owners, a real estate investment trust, future tenants of the project, the municipality, utility providers and countless engineers. , 2017
- Drafted an extensive Zoning Ordinance and Map Amendment, which was done, in part, to allow for the redevelopment of a former monastary., 2015
- Negotiated and handled the purchase of certain assets of a soda company on behalf of the purchaser., 2015
- Cedar Crest College, Board of Trustees, Trustee, 2021 – Present, Chair of the Property and Facilities Committee , 2024
- Chair, Real Estate Committee, Lehigh County Bar Association, 2024
- Member of the Board for Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania., 2024
- Member of the Board of Trustees of Haven House, Allentown, PA, which provides much needed mental health services to the residents of the Lehigh Valley., 2024
- Parkland School District Education Foundation. I serve as a member of the Board of Directors and provided pro bono legal advice to the organization., 2024
- Member of Commercial Real Estate Women's Network (CREW) Lehigh Valley. As part of this group, I attended symposiums and events related to commercial real estate., 2024
- Named one of “Power 30 in Law,” Lehigh Valley Business, 2021, Power 30 in Law, Lehigh Valley Business, 2021
- I was awarded the Top 40 Under 40 Award by Lehigh Valley Business., Top 40 Under 40, Lehigh Valley Business, 2018
- Woman of Influence, Lehigh Valley Business, 2017
- Local Legal Leader, Lehigh Valley Magazine, 2017
- Local Legal Leader, Lehigh Valley Magazine, 2016
- Top 20 Under 40, Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal
- Graduate of the Leadership Lehigh Valley Program, which is an executive and leadership development program in the greater Lehigh Valley
- Widener University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007 Executive Managing Editor for Widener Law Journal, 2007
- Pennsylvania State University, B.S. in Marketing and Women’s Studies, 2004 Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Women’s Studies, 2004
- An article on the potential benefits of a mixed use development., Author, On the comeback, mixed use developments have plenty of benefits, Lehigh Valley Business, 2016
- And Higher Education
- Industrial
- Non-Profits
Office location for Stephanie Kobal
645 Hamilton St
Suite 800
Allentown, PA 18101
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2017 - 2022