Peter A. Chacanias
Education
  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., Riccio Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, 2014

  • Seton Hall University, B.A., magna cum laude, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholarship Award, 2011

Admissions
  • New Jersey, 2015
  • United States District Court, District of New Jersey, 2015

Peter A. Chacanias, an associate with the firm, concentrates his practice in the areas of land use and environmental, advising commercial real estate developers and property owners on all aspects of the land development process, including development, redevelopment, affordable housing, and permitting matters.

Peter has appeared before planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, and other municipal governing bodies throughout the State to advocate on behalf of clients in connection with site plan approvals, subdivisions, and variance applications.  Unique among land use attorneys, he also has significant experience dealing with waterfront development and tidelands matters, and has successfully presented applications for grants and permits before the Bureau of Tidelands Management and the Division of Land Resource Protection, both subsets of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  A growing presence in the field, Peter has presented programs on land use, zoning, tidelands and other waterfront development topics at a number of professional forums, including the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE), the National Business Institute, the NEXUS Association of Realtors, Surety Title and Fidelity National Title.

Prior to joining Hyland Levin Shapiro, he handled land use, environmental, redevelopment, tidelands matters and related litigation at two prestigious law firms in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.  Peter previously served as Board Solicitor for several municipal bodies throughout New Jersey, including the Point Pleasant Beach Planning Board, and the Zoning Boards of Adjustment for the municipalities of Little Egg Harbor, Toms River and Summit.

Peter is an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the NJSBA’s Land Use Section.  He earned his undergraduate degree at Seton Hall University (B.A. 2011), where he graduated magna cum laude and received the Presidential Scholarship Award.  He was also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key International Honour Society.  Peter received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 2014) where he received the Presidential Scholarship and the Riccio Scholarship.

Peter resides in Old Bridge Township with his wife and daughter.  In his spare time, Peter enjoys reading and is an avid outdoorsman and athlete.  When he is not working, you can usually find him hiking along some wooded trail or training for his next long distance run, and he hopes to rekindle his love of acting – a hobby he picked up in college and managed to continue throughout law school.

“Peter’s prior experience has been on both sides of the development table, enabling him to cogently understand and respect the government’s perspective in processing each application”

said partner, William F. Hyland, Jr.

Advise developers and property owners on all aspects of the land development process.

Advise clients on complex title disputes of all types, including boundary line disputes, quiet title actions, foreclosures and tidelands matters.

Appear before the Tidelands Resource Council to present applications for riparian grants.

Appear before state agencies in connection with applications for Waterfront Development Permits and CAFRA Permits.

Testified before the New Jersey Senate’s Judiciary Committee and the Community & Urban Affairs Committee regarding the legal and practical effects of proposed legislation on title practice in New Jersey.

“NJICLE Tidelands Concerns for Real Estate Attorneys”, NJCLE, June 2023

“New Jersey Land Use and Zoning from Start to Finish”, National Business Institute, February 2023

“NJICLE Land Use Institute”, NJICLE, December 2022

“Advanced Land Use and Zoning Issues 2022,” National Business Institute, June 2022

“Tidelands Kahoot,” 98th Annual New Jersey Land Title Association Convention, June 2022

“Buyer Beware – The Hidden Cost of a Home Near the Water,” NEXUS Association of Realtors, November 2021

“Introduction to Land Use and Zoning,” National Business Institute, November 2021

“Tidelands and Other Water Rights,” Surety Title & Fidelity National Title, November 2021

“Regulatory Outlook for Warehouse Development in Southern New Jersey in 2024”, SNJDC’s The Chronicle Magazine, Fourth Quarter 2023

Beware of the Riparian Claim on NJ Waterfront Properties”, WCRE InfoFriday|June 30, 2021

New Jersey Land Title Ass’n v. Rone, 241 N.J. 113, 226 A.3d 54 (2020)

“The Hidden Cost of a Dream Home on the Water”, Jersey Sporting News, December 2019

Education
  • Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., Riccio Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, 2014

  • Seton Hall University, B.A., magna cum laude, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholarship Award, 2011

Admissions
  • New Jersey, 2015
  • United States District Court, District of New Jersey, 2015