Local Attorney Leads Hampden County Bar Association (HCBA) Seminar on Zoning Permits

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Michael A. Fenton, an attorney at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., was a speaker at a Hampden County Bar Association (HCBA) seminar about zoning permits on May 9, 2014. The seminar focused on what attorneys can expect from local zoning boards and offered strategies for drafting applications and presenting at hearings.

“Experts in Residence” is one of four educational programs and training opportunities offered by the Hampden County Bar Association. Attorney Fenton was chosen to participate in the seminar because of his extensive background in zoning issues. As President of the Springfield City Council, Attorney Fenton is familiar with the major zoning permit issues facing the city today.

“I have a unique perspective on this subject because I serve as counsel to major developers for permitting matters and I am the chair of the special permit granting authority in Springfield,” said Attorney Fenton. “In these capacities I have experienced what it is like to advocate for a zoning petitioner as an attorney while also having experience voting on and drafting decisions as the head of one of the Commonwealth’s busiest zoning boards.”

The seminar offered more in-depth training for local attorneys interested in learning more about the nuances of zoning.

“The most interesting questions that sparked discussion among the attendees at the seminar were related to real-world examples of how zoning boards behave,” said Fenton. “Due to the fact that every single one of the Commonwealth’s 351 municipalities approach zoning in their own unique way, it is helpful for professionals with experience in this field to trade examples with each other.”

According to Attorney Fenton, the biggest challenge regarding zoning is the navigation of the tangled web of municipal procedures and regulations.

 
“The key to overcoming this obstacle is preparation and effective communication with appropriate municipal agents,” Attorney Fenton said. “Practitioners need to familiarize themselves with the relevant municipality and its particular procedures in advance of any presentations or submissions. Being unaware of a nuanced municipal rule or procedure can be fatal to a zoning petition.”

Fenton is an attorney with the law firm of Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C. He specializes in the areas of business planning, commercial real estate, and estate planning and is admitted to practice law in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. Fenton also possesses a master’s in business administration and is currently pursuing his CPA certification. He has handled a number of zoning-related transactions, including:

  • Representation of a multinational wireless telecommunications developer in front of various municipal zoning boards
  • Representation of a large-scale photovoltaic developer in its interactions with a municipality for approval of zoning and payment in lieu of taxes
  • Representation of a regional hospital in development and permitting of a new facility.