Allegheny West Civic Council v. Zoning

In this land use case, the Pittsburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment granted Irwin Associates, Inc.s request for variances to the local zoning ordinance. The trial court found substantial evidence supporting that Irwin Associates will suffer unnecessary hardship without the variances and affirmed. The Commonwealth Court reversed the trial court because Irwin Associates did not establish that its property was valueless without the variances. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the Commonwealth Courts decision.