ZONING & LICENSING
We have significant experience in zoning and licensing matters in the City of Boston and surrounding communities. We have provided representation to clients before state and local administrative bodies such as the Zoning Board of Appeal, Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), Inspectional Services Department (ISD), the Licensing Board, the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, the Cannabis Control Commission, and the Consumer Affairs Division.
Joseph D. Feaster, Jr. leads our Zoning & Licensing practice. Attorney Feaster formerly served on the Boston Board of Appeal for 11 years, 3 of which he served as Chair. He has over 20 years of zoning and licensing practice experience. Attorney Feaster has also served as Interim Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority and is widely regarded as an expert on zoning and affordable housing matters.
Click below to learn about some of the zoning and licensing matters we have been involved in.
• Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
• Harbor Health Services, Inc.
• Restaurant with Entertainment
• Yum! Brands (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
• Boston Redevelopment Authority Parcel 9
Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., who formerly served on the Boston Board of Appeal for 11 years (3 of which he served as Chair), leads the firm’s Zoning & Licensing practice. Attorney Feaster has over 20 years of zoning and licensing practice experience.
Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
For over 10 years we have represented Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation before the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Boston Board of Appeals, and Boston Inspectional Services Department to address zoning issues related to several housing development projects and commercial retail projects.
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Harbor Health Services, Inc.
We represented Harbor Health Services, Inc. in the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s Article 80 development review process and before the Board of Appeal and Inspectional Services Department in connection with the construction of an Adult Day Center and offices.
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Cummins Development LLC
We represented Cummins Development LLC before the Boston Redevelopment Authority in their efforts to construct scattered site housing on several parcels in Boston. This is a continuing effort for several years and we expect to conclude it in the near future.
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Restaurant with Entertainment
We represented several clients before the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, City of Boston Licensing Board and Boston Board of Appeals, including spearheading the community process to enable clients to obtain the required permits to operate restaurants and lounges, and to provide entertainment.
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Papa John’s Pizza
We represented the client before the Licensing Board and conducted the community process resulting in the client being permitted to operate a Papa John’s Pizza restaurant.
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Yum! Brands (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
We represented Yum! Brands on several zoning and licensing matters in the City of Boston. In one particular matter, Yum! Brands asked our firm to take over an on-going matter in which it sought zoning relief to construct a new restaurant in the face of strenuous community political opposition. Previously, one of Boston’s largest law firms represented Yum! Brands in a 15-month effort that produced no results.
​Immediately following our engagement, we opened communication with the community groups and elected officials, including the Mayor’s office. We listened to the opposing parties, identified 15 points of concern and counseled our client in addressing each point. After three months, we were able to bring Yum! Brands, the community, and the elected officials together through a memorandum of understanding detailing the community’s concerns and the client’s agreement on addressing each concern. This led to our client receiving the zoning relief that it sought.
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JP Parcel U, LLC
We represented the developer of a $40 million, three-phase residential development that included 24 townhouses comprising 48 condominium units, and a mid-rise, multifamily, mixed-used apartment building with 76 rental units. We assisted the developer in the acquisition of the property from the City, as well as the zoning and community process, which included Article 80 Large Project Review. We also provided the Lender with a zoning opinion and served as legal counsel on other development related matters.
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Boston Redevelopment Authority Parcel 9
We represented the developer of a mixed-use development comprised of a 145 room hotel, 50 residential units, ground floor retail/commercial space of approximately 7,800 s.f., and on-site accessory parking for 122 vehicles. We guided the Project through a lengthy planning process involving the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, a Project Review committee, the Roxbury Neighborhood Council, and numerous other concerned individuals and community organizations.
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Madison Park Development Corporation
We served as Zoning counsel to Madison Park Development Corporation in connection with its proposed development Project at 75 - 81 Dudley Street, Roxbury (Boston) MA. The Project proposes the construction of a four-story affordable condominium development with first-floor commercial space targeted toward affordable retail, commercial, or incubator space for local businesses. Building amenities include a first-floor lounge space and bike storage room, and units include a mix of one, two, and three-bedrooms ranging between 640 and 1085 square feet.
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The location and landscape of the site created a uniquely sized and shaped development parcel that straddled two different Zoning Districts, each with a different set of dimensional and other restrictions. Attorney Timothy A.M. Fraser argued before the City of Boston Board of Appeal to obtain the fourteen (14) Zoning Code variances required to combine the lots and make use of the unique Project site. With support from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, members of the City Council, DND and BPDA staff, as well as abutters and neighbors, the Board unanimously granted the variances
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