Brian Smith, chair of the firm's Land Use Group, concentrates his practice in land use and real estate as well as in litigation concerning these topics. He represents municipalities, developers, and neighbors in land use, planning, wetland, and coastal resources issues. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and appeals relating to these issues. Mr. Smith has lectured extensively on the topic of affordable housing, land use, and roads and highways. He has also worked with music and other large venues. Mr. Smith, prior to law school, worked in planning for Saratoga County, New York, and the City of Eugene, Oregon. Professional Associations - American Bar Association, 1986 to present - Connecticut Bar Association, 1986 to present, Executive Committee, Chair - Cornell Real Estate Council, 1990 to present - Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Chair Community Involvement - The Bridge Family Center, Board of Directors, 2011 Honors and Awards - Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Land Use/Zoning since 2006 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.) Experience - Representation of the Hartford Housing Authority for all real estate and financing legal work necessary for the authority to purchase the Dutch Point housing project, tear it down, and convert it to a new and improved residential area of the City of Hartford. The $2.5 million project was financed through a HUD grant. - Representation of a health department representing eight municipalities in northern Connecticut on analysis of pond fluctuation when monitoring ponds that are recipients of the product of failed septic systems. - Appeared before the Hartford Flood Commission for several developers or users of streambanks of the Park River and the Connecticut River. - Representation of land trust which owns or holds interests in almost 200 acres of open space lands along the Connecticut River. Representation includes legal issues of lands that protect Bald Eagle nesting sites in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. - Representation as litigation counsel for a hydropower company, which runs a hydropower facility at an old mill site in Eastern, Connecticut, to handle damages action resulting from the collapse of a nineteenth-century mill building onto a penstock, the resulting loss of power generation, related landlord/tenant issues, and the oversight of environmental issues review arising from the collapse by an environmental consultant. - Argued numerous cases in Connecticut's appellate level courts in land use. Publications & Presentations Articles - "Signs of Prior Restraint - Emerging Trends in First Amendment Litigation" (September/October 2005), published in Municipal Lawyer - "The First Amendment in Land Use Law" (2/1990), published in ALI-ABA Course Materials Journal Books - Public Access to the New York Shoreline (1988) - Various chapters from Land Use Law Update in Connecticut - Various chapters from Road and Access Law in Connecticut Presentations - "Special Permit and Site Plan Review" (3/12/2011) presented at Connecticut Land Use Law for Municipal Land Use Agencies, Boards, and Commissions at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, sponsored by the Planning & Zoning Section of the Connecticut Bar Association - "Branford Eminent Domain Cases" (12/2010) presented at Connecticut Bar Association's Fifth Annual Property Rights Seminar - "Basic Land Use Law" (10/2009) presented at Connecticut Bar Association event - "Boundary Law in Connecticut" (2/7/2002) presented at the National Business Institute News 8.18.11, Brian Smith Joins Bridge Board of Directors 4.05.11, Land Law Lawyers Deliver Presentations for Connecticut Planning and Zoning Officials 12.17.10, LandLaw Partners Speak at Property Rights Seminar 12.16.10, Robinson & Cole Elevates Six New Counsel 9.14.10, Attorney Meets President of Ireland 11.30.09, Robinson & Cole Attorneys Receive Spotlight Award for Community Work |