Jacobi v. Zoning Board of Adjustment

Opinion by

Me. Justice Jones,

This appeal challenges an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County sustaining the grant by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of Lower Moreland Township (Board), of a special exception to permit the use of a property, located in an “L-Residential” zone, as a church, parochial elementary school, convent and rectory.

The applicant was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Philadelphia who, in his archiepiscopal capacity, owns the subject property, which prior to its purchase by the archdiocese, was occupied as a family dwelling house and utilized as a farm.

The…