Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey

Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey is an attorney and certified land planner (AICP) in the Pavese Law Firm’s Land Use, Zoning and Local Government and Real Estate practice areas. Her practice focuses primarily on planning, zoning, real estate, and environmental issues related to the development of land. This includes: permitting, drafting comprehensive plan amendments, and representing clients in local government administrative matters before city and county commissions, councils, and boards.  As a certified land planner (AICP), Ms. Berkey can also testify as an expert witness on land use and zoning issues.

Ms. Berkey’s experience includes having prepared variance, conditional use, special exception, and permit applications for wireless telecommunications facilities across dozens of jurisdictions in the Baltimore/Washington area; presenting proposed sites to local land use officials and the public at community input meetings and public hearings; performing zoning ordinance reviews; reviewing zoning drawings prior to submittal for compliance with public agencies and client requirements; and monitoring legislation. She gained extensive experience in building the relationships with landowners, adjacent neighbors, community residents, planners and other governmental officials, land use and telecommunications lawyers, and citizen groups necessary to support proposed sites throughout the zoning and permitting process.

After her time in wireless site development, Ms. Berkey earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of City and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.) degrees under a dual-degree program sponsored by the University of North Carolina School of Law and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of City and Regional Planning. Her studies focused primarily on land use and environmental law/planning.

In her spare time, Ms. Berkey serves as Chair of the Urban Land Institute Southwest Florida's Young Leaders Group, Co-Chair for the Lee County Bar’s Pro Bono Committee, Guardian ad Litem for the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program (20^th Judicial Circuit), and volunteers with the Gulf Coast Humane Society. She also enjoys boating, fencing, skiing, travel, and art.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Articles:

• Kathleen Oppenheimer Berkey, AICP & Todd K. BenDor, A Comprehensive Solution to the Marine Biofouling Problem for the Endangered Florida Manatee and Other Species, 42:2 Envtl. Law 415, 415-67 (2012).

• Please click here for a list of additional publications.

Presentations:

• “What the Scuttlebutt is All About: Opportunities and Incentives for Renewable Energy in Florida,” co-presenter, Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s annual conference (Sep. 14, 2012).

• “Batten Down the Hatches: Tips for a Successful Job Search in Today’s Economy,” co-presenter, Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s annual conference (Sep. 14, 2012).