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Joseph A. Fitzpatrick Jr. - Allentown, PA
645 West Hamilton StreetSuite 800 Allentown, PA 18101
Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.
Updated: 02/04/2025
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Allentown REAL ESTATE, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT Lawyer
Overview
Joseph A. Fitzpatrick, Jr. is a founding member and shareholder of the Firm and is recognized as one of Eastern Pennsylvania's premier land use and development attorneys. In addition to land use and development, Mr. Fitzpatrick's practice includes real estate, zoning and subdivision, commercial transactions, and general business representation. He has led clients' development teams in advancing major commercial, industrial and residential projects including large regional corporate centers, office parks, retail and lifestyle centers, delivery and fulfillment operations, quarry and materials facilities, manufacturing communications installations and warehousing and distribution centers. Mr. Fitzpatrick handles the permitting and development of single family home subdivisions, condominiums, and multifamily housing. He represents private interests regarding claims, negotiations and entitlements matters with governmental agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and actively represents land owners in eminent domain situations.Mr. Fitzpatrick is a Board member for the philanthropic Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation, based in Harrisburg. He is a Trustee on the Board of DeSales University in Pennsylvania. His professional experience and leadership on major project teams has created a strong network of relationships, enhancing the ability of Mr. Fitzpatrick and the Firm to deal successfully with governmental and municipal bodies, elected and appointed officials, business leaders and real estate and development professionals.
Mr. Fitzpatrick served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Team Pennsylvania Foundation, a bipartisan, public-private sector organization, co-chaired by the Governor, which endeavors to enhance economic development, technology and manufacturing opportunities, and job creation in Pennsylvania. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Sacred Heart Healthcare Systems in Allentown for over a decade.
About Joseph A. Fitzpatrick Jr.
Current Employment Position(s)
- Shareholder
- Founder
Practice Areas
- REAL ESTATE, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT
- PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE
- CORPORATE, BUSINESS & BANKING
- EMINENT DOMAIN
- TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS & PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
Representative Clients
- Air Products & Chemicals, Incorporated
- Eastern Industries, Inc.
- Pennsylvania Power & Light Company
- Stabler Land Company
- Toll Brothers, Inc.
- U.S. Generating Company
- Vanguard Cellular Systems/Cellular One
- Successfully represented development of national developer’s multi-use, 500 acre project at Lehigh Valley International Airport
- Handled the permitting, development and build-out of the 1,800 acre Stabler Corporate Center, Lehigh Valley, PA
- Successfully appealed and resolved condemnation cases by government on behalf of restaurants, industrial users, developers, and large landowners
- Multiple high-end retail and shopping facilities, including The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley lifestyle center, Wegmans Food Markets, major chain convenience stores, and “big box” national retailers
- Successfully appealed or resolved tax assessment appeals for major national and regional corporations, as well as condominium communities, and individual commercial and residential properties, class actions
- Handles governmental challenges and land use actions affecting commercial, industrial and residential uses, including dealing with federal, state and local agencies
Representative Cases
- Brown v. Borough Council of Borough of Emmaus, Lehigh County, 496 A.2d 873 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1985)
- California Car Wash of Allentown, Inc. v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Whitehall Tp., 510 A.2d 931 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1986)
- Tranguch v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Borough of Emmaus, 505 A.2d 410 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1986)
- Louis W. Epstein Family Partnership v. Kmart Corp., 828 F.Supp. 328 (E.D.Pa. 1993)
- In re Estate of Lazarus, 616 A.2d 1023 (Pa.Super. 1992)
- Board of Com'rs of South Whitehall Tp., Lehigh County v. Toll Bros., Inc., 607 A.2d 824 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1992)
- Lehigh Valley Rail Management LLC v. County of Northampton Revenue Appeals Board, A.3d, 2015 WL 6921189 (PA. Cmwlth.)
- Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. v. Board of Assessment Appeals of Lehigh County, 720 A.2d 790 (Pa. Cmwlth.)
- North Bethlehem Neighbors Group et al v. City of Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board et al, 822 A.2d 840 (Pa. Cmwlth.)
- Hills at Devonshire Homeowners’ Association, Inc. v. Zoning Hearing Board of Salisbury Township et al, 819 A.2d 196 (Pa. Cmwlth.)
- Epstein Partnership & Levitz Furniture Company v. Kmart, 828 F. Supp. 328 (E.D. Pa.)
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1981
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Other Affiliations
- Bar Association of Lehigh County (Member)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association (Member)
- American Bar Association (Member)
- Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
Pro Bono Activities
- Team Pennsylvania Foundation (public/private Statewide Economic Development Foundation), Board of Directors/Executive Committee, 2016 – Present
- Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation (philanthropic board serving central and Lehigh Valley, PA), Board of Directors, 2016 – Present
- Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation (philanthropic board serving central and Lehigh Valley, PA), Board of Directors, 2016 – Present
- Sacred Heart Healthcare Systems, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, 2006 – 2018
- Phantoms Charities (handicapped initiatives, youth sports, fitness and education), Founding Director, 2013 – Present
- Provident Bank, Advisory Council (PA), 2013 – 2019; Team Capital Bank, 2005 – 2013
Past Positions
- Lehigh County, Assistant County Solicitor, 1986 - 1988
Education
- Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1980
J.D. - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1977
B.A.
Honors: magna cum laude
Fees
Accepts Credit Cards
Office Information
Address
645 West Hamilton StreetSuite 800 Allentown, PA 18101
Fax
- 610-797-6663
Office Hours
8:30 - 5:00 (M-Th); 8:00 - 4:30 (F)
Websites
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Joseph A. Fitzpatrick Jr.
Included on the 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2005 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
- 2004 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
View the profile for Joseph A. Fitzpatrick Jr. on Super Lawyers
Honors
- Martindale Hubbell Lawyers’ Rating “AV® Preeminent™,” highest professional ranking
- “Best Lawyers in America” designation, 2015 – Present
- Named a “Select Lawyer” in Construction Law, Eminent Domain Law, Government/Cities/Municipalities Law, Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeals Law, and Real Estate, Zoning, Planning & Land Use Development Law, 2014
- Named a “Select Lawyer” in Eminent Domain Law and Real Estate, Zoning, Planning and Land Use Development Law, 2015
- Selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 11 consecutive years
- “Best of Attorneys” by Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, 2011
- “Top Rated Lawyer” for Land Use and Zoning, Energy Law, Environmental Law, by American Lawyer Media, 2013
- “Person of the Year” by the March of Dimes Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Awards Committee, 2010
- “Community Leader of the Year” by the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, 2010
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