Susan R. Rubright, Member

Susan Rubright is a detail-oriented, dedicated, and thoughtful attorney with a thorough understanding of all aspects of real estate and real estate development. She has the ability to place development and zoning issues into the transactional context, including due diligence, purchase agreements and leases, land use, environmental permitting, and construction costs/timing. She has comprehensive experience with commercial developers and individuals in obtaining development (site plan, subdivision, and zoning variance) approvals. Representative clients include apartment, multifamily, and single-family home builders; national pharmacy stores; hotel developers; solar companies; retail centers; national renal dialysis centers; and other medical providers. Susan also takes pride in solving land use and municipal problems for individuals, small business owners, and non-profit groups.

Susan understands the redevelopment process from multiple angles. She works with redevelopers in pursuing redevelopment designations and related approvals. She has represented planning boards in designating areas “in need of redevelopment” and reviewing the related redevelopment approvals and agreements. She has also sought the removal of properties from inclusion in a redevelopment area.

Susan counsels public and private clients on complex matters such as affordable housing and COAH, rezonings, environmental permitting, the Highlands Act, code compliance, farmland preservation and the Right to Farm, open space acquisition, and the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

On a weekly basis, Susan regularly appears on behalf of applicants before planning and zoning boards throughout northern and central New Jersey, including Livingston, East Hanover, Somerville, Raritan Borough, Phillipsburg, Lopatcong and Tewksbury. She also represents residents interested in development applications occurring in their neighborhoods (such residents sometimes referred to as “objectors”).  When necessary, Susan litigates land use and zoning matters on behalf of private and public clients.

Susan was the planning (combined planning and zoning) board attorney for Raritan Borough in Somerset County for 16 years and combined board for the Borough of Far Hills for 5 years. Previously, she served as zoning board attorney and planning board attorney for White Township, planning board attorney for Hillsborough Township, planning board attorney for the Town of Phillipsburg, 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.

When representing governing bodies with borough, township, or town forms of government, Susan works to streamline procedures and promote efficiency and has done so on numerous issues including the development of budgets and capital improvement spending plans, bid documents, and contracts. She formerly 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), Hampton Borough, the Town of Clinton, Franklin Township (Hunterdon), Washington Township (Warren), and Paramus Borough.

Prior to her legal career, Susan was a staff planner for the Somerset County Planning Board. She earned a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. Susan was honored by the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women as its “Outstanding Lawyer for 2012.” She was also named “Associate of the Quarter” for the 3rd quarter of 2014 by the Metropolitan Builders and Contractors Association.

Susan is certified by the NRA to teach First Steps Pistol, Basic Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home, and Personal Protection Outside the Home, and as Range Safety Officer. Susan actively volunteers with animal rescue groups and is a professional dog trainer.