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Professionals The Team Behind the Results

Hollister_Tim

Timothy S. Hollister

Partner Hartford

Tim Hollister practices land use, environmental and municipal law, and handles a wide range of real estate and administrative law challenges that arise in the context of land use and environmental matters. He has represented developers, corporations, property owners, municipalities, boards of education, and neighborhood and environmental groups in administrative proceedings before local, state, regional and federal agencies and litigation in the state and federal trial courts. He has argued more than 45 cases in the state and federal appellate courts. When representing applicants seeking land use and environmental permits, Tim’s approach is to work closely with the team of experts and consultants to present the application in a professional, procedurally correct, substantively compliant, and cost-conscious manner, and to create an administrative record that will lead the agency to grant approval.

He is recognized both regionally and nationally for his work in workforce and affordable housing development, wetlands regulation, and eminent domain. Tim has specific experience in eminent domain and inverse condemnation, unconstitutional takings, exactions and other civil rights violations, workforce and affordable housing, fair housing, wetlands regulation, drafting and enforcement of land use regulations, inclusionary zoning, flood plain management, mineral rights, riparian rights, specific performance, landlord and tenant, quiet title, title insurance, tax appeals, broker’s commissions and foreclosures.

Experience

  • Rainbow Housing Corp. v Town of Cromwell: Successfully represented Rainbow Housing Corporation and its affiliate Gilead Community Services, subsidiaries of mental health services providers Connecticut Institute for the Blind and Oak Hill, in a tax exemption case in the Connecticut Superior Court, and then as co-counsel with Attorney Pat Naples of Shipman & Goodwin, in the Supreme Court.
  • Secured a victory for a neighborhood group of more than 500 residents of the area around Lime Rock Racetrack in Salisbury, Connecticut, a victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court in the case of Lime Rock Park vs Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission et al.. At issue was the right of the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt revised zoning regulations to control the proposed expansion of the Race Track from a regional, auto-club-based operation into a NASCAR-type national facility capable of hosting multi-day races. Such expansion would require racing on Sundays, which has been banned at Lime Rock since the late 1950’s by a court order in a noise nuisance case brought by neighbors of the Track. The trial court had ruled in 2018 that a state statute as amended in 1998 prohibited local zoning regulation from banning auto racing on Sundays. This ruling generated enormous pressure to prevail in this appeal, to protect the quality of life and property values of our hundreds of clients. The Supreme Court delivered a victory when it reversed the trial court, holding that the 1998 amendment to the state statute had rendered the law ambiguous as to Sunday racing, but the legislative history showed that the General Assembly could not have intended in 1998 to create a statewide right to conduct racing on Sundays, regardless of local regulations banning it.

Credentials

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Partner (2021-Present)
  • Shipman & Goodwin LLP
    • Partner (1992-2021)

Honors & Awards

  • Citizen of the Law Award, Connecticut Bar Association (2012)
  • AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Real Estate (2004-2014); Real Estate: Band One Zoning/Land Use (2015-2023)
  • Super Lawyers, Connecticut: Land Use/Zoning (2006-2023)
  • Listed as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Connecticut by Super Lawyers® (2012, 2013, 2016)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation-Land Use and Zoning (2009-2024)
  • Named "Lawyer of the Year": Best Lawyers Hartford Region Litigation-Land Use and Zoning; (2011-2014, 2017, 2020, 2024): Best Lawyers Hartford Region Land Use and Zoning Law (2016, 2018, 2021, 2024)
  • Steering Committee, HOMEConnecticut Campaign (2005-present)
  • Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Affordable Housing, State of Connecticut Office of the Governor (1999-2000)
  • HOBI Award, Connecticut Home Builders Association (2019)
  • Distinguished Service Award, Connecticut Home Builders and Remodelers Association (2004 and 2007)
  • Local Government Law Fellow, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2002-2007, 2012-2017, renewed in 2017, for 2017-2022)
  • Marvin Glink Private Practice Local Government Attorney/National Public Service Award, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2008)
  • Filed seven petitions or briefs in the United States Supreme Court

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Commission on Connecticut’s Development and Future, Attorney appointed by Governor Ned Lamont (Present)
  • Author, His Father Still: A Parenting Memoir, Oprah's Book Club Recommended Reading, July 2016
  • 2015 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award, National Safety Council
  • Author, Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving, (Chicago Review Press, 2nd edition 2018), www.nsfteendriving.com; Author, "From Reid's Dad," a national blog for parents of teen drivers, www.fromreidsdad.org; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Public Service Award (2010); Public Service Award, Governor's Highway Safety Association, (2014); Teen Driver Safety Leadership Award, National Safety Council (2015)
  • Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force: Member (2007-2008)
  • Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness: Counsel (1988-present)
  • Asylum Hill Congregational Church: Task Force on Inclusiveness and Diversity, Co-Chair (2004-2006); Senior Minister Search Committee (2011)
  • Coro Foundation, New York Center: Founding Member, Board of Directors (1980-86)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Planning Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Environmental Law Section, Executive Committee (1992-present)
    • Chair (1996-1997)
    • Member, Planning and Zoning Section (1992-present)
    • Chair, Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee (2005-2008)

Bar Memberships

  • Connecticut
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
  • United States Supreme Court

Newsroom

Publication

U.S. Supreme Court Drastically Restricts When Construction Needs a Federal Clean Water Act Permit

Ten years ago, we represented a property owner who had obtained local zoning and wetlands permits to build 299 homes on 364 acres. Part of the land to be developed was an agricultural field that flooded during the spring. The flood water spilled over a ber…

Publication

Policy, Practical, and Legal Challenges to Inclusionary Zoning

Timothy S. Hollister, Andrea L. Gomes, and Scott R. MacNeil prepared the latest resource manual, "Policy, Practical, and Legal Challenges to Inclusionary Zoning: A Resource Manual for NAHB Members," on inclusionary zoning for National Association of Home B…

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Firm News

57 Hinckley Allen Lawyers Included in 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

A total of 57 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York for 2023, including those newly recognized as well as featured in Top Lists.Ger…

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America® 2024

A multitude of Hinckley Allen attorneys are recognized in their respective practice areas in Best Lawyers® 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, 11 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named in the “Lawyers of the Year” category, as wel…

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Case Study

Hinckley Allen Leads the Charge for Affordable Housing in CT

Hinckley Allen represented Connecticut developer, Sager Development LLC, in securing land use approvals for a new affordable multifamily community in Farmington. After just two hearings, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission unanimously approved applications…

Case Study

A Win for Those in Need

Timothy S. Hollister represented Rainbow Housing Corporation and its affiliate Gilead Community Services, subsidiaries of mental health services providers Connecticut Institute for the Blind and Oak Hill, in a tax exemption case in the Connecticut Superior…

Events

Past Event

PROGRAM: Affordable Housing - What's Next?

April 26, 2023

Partner Timothy S. Hollister and Associate Andrea L. Gomes will join an esteemed panel to discuss affordable housing in Connecticut, addressing the different perspectives of the applicant-developer, municipality, and agency member.CCAPA is pleased to o…

Past Event

VIRTUAL EVENT: Connecticut's Affordable Housing Conference 2022 - Building Stability

November 14, 2022

Partner Timothy S. Hollister and Associate Andrea L. Gomes will join two esteemed panels to discuss building stability and a wide array of best practices, collaborations, and coordinated advocacy strategies to strengthen housing stability for households a…

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