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Susan Rubright represents private applicants before planning and zoning boards throughout New Jersey and advises public entities in general land use, real estate and municipal matters.  She also litigates land use and zoning matters on behalf of private and public clients.

Susan has extensive experience in municipal, zoning, land use and real estate matters. Susan has represented governing bodies with borough, township and town forms of government in general municipal, land use and real estate matters.  In addition to representing private clients on site plan, subdivision and variance applications, Susan provides legal advice to private clients on complex matters such as affordable housing and COAH, master plan revisions, rezonings, redevelopment, storm water management, Highlands Act exemptions, code enforcement, Highlands Act storm water regulations, farmland preservation, open space acquisition, Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and Right to Farm issues. She has brought condemnation actions in connection with redevelopment and infrastructure projects. Susan was the author of legal briefs on a novel statutory conflict issue between the Municipal Land Use Law and the Right to Farm Act. She also negotiated and coordinated the first simultaneous closing in New Jersey that utilized state, county and municipal farmland preservation funding in order to purchase development rights on preserved property. She prepared the model telecommunications ordinance used by numerous municipalities in the state.

Currently she serves as planning board attorney for Raritan Borough in Somerset County. Previously, she served as municipal attorney for Tewksbury Township, Lebanon Borough, Bethlehem Township and Hardwick Township, and as assistant municipal attorney for the Borough of North Plainfield, East Amwell Township, Washington Borough (Warren), and Hampton Borough, and the Town of Clinton, Franklin Township (Hunterdon), Washington Township (Warren) and Paramus Borough.

Susan served as zoning board attorney and planning board attorney for White Township, planning board attorney for Hillsborough Township, planning board attorney for Bloomsbury Borough and land use board attorney and special land use board counsel for Bethlehem Township. She has done real estate work for Lebanon Township, Lopatcong Township and the City of Plainfield, as well as planning and zoning work for Woodbridge Township and the City of Plainfield. She has also provided planning and zoning advice to the planning board of Readington Township.

PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES

Susan co-authored the article "Back to Blight?" published in January 2008 in Real Estate New Jersey. She is a frequent lecturer on planning and zoning procedures and issues to municipal governing officials and planning and zoning board members on behalf of New Jersey Planning Officials. Susan was profiled in "Meet the Lawyers" and as a "Women of Influence," both in Real Estate New Jersey, 2008. She was also profiled in "Executive Women in Business" in the MidAtlanticReal Estate Journal, in 2008. She has lectured for the National Business Institute (NBI) on legal issues involving local governments, in 2009. Her article, "Land Use Strategy in Times of Economic Strife," was published in New Jersey & Company in May 2009.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• New Jersey Planning Officials (2003-present) Associate Counsel
  (2009-present)
• Bernards Township Cable Advisory Task Force (2008-2010)
• Somerset County Office on Aging Advisory Council (2008-2011)
• New Jersey Builders Association, Legislative Affairs Committee (2010 - present)
• Community Builders & Remodelers Association (2008 - present), Member, Board of Directors (2011 - present) 
• Somerset County Federation of Republican Women (2003-present), Vice President (2009-present)
• Cedars at Basking Ridge Condominium Association (1993-1996)
• Borough of Peapack & Gladstone Environmental Commission (1978-1982)
• New Jersey Bar Association, Land Use Law Section (1995-present); Municipal Law Section (2000-present); Section Board of Directors (2011)
• Somerset County Business Partnership, Member (2011-present)

ADDITIONAL NOTEWORTHY INFORMATION

Susan has been selected by the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women as its "Outstanding Lawyer for 2012."

Prior to her legal career, Susan served as a staff planner for the Somerset County Planning Board. 

Susan is certified by the NRA to teach First Steps Pistol, Basic Pistol and Personal Protection in the home.  She is certified by the NRA as a Range Safety Officer.