Amy E. Souchuns represents developers, property owners and prospective purchasers in land use and real estate matters. She has regularly appeared before commissions and agencies throughout the state on a wide range of applications. Ms. Souchuns’ experience includes representation of clients in connection with numerous single family and multi-family residential developments for sale and rental throughout Connecticut; the redevelopment of brownfields and former industrial sites for residential, commercial and retail use; and the development and renovation of commercial office space. She has extensive experience with affordable housing issues statewide, having worked with private developers, non-profit agencies and municipalities on inclusionary zoning matters, including regulation drafting, development applications and administration of affordable units. She also conducts zoning analyses for potential developments and building acquisitions. Ms. Souchuns also initiates and defends administrative appeals in the land use context and other litigation matters involving real estate and land use and has argued before the Connecticut Appellate and Superior Courts in multiple cases.

Ms. Souchuns is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. She has been named a Connecticut Super Lawyer in the area of Land Use/Zoning 2014-2016 and from 2009-2013 was a Connecticut Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in the area of Land Use/Zoning. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, recently chairing its Planning & Zoning Section, and participating as a member of its Environment Section. She is a member of the Home Builders Association of Connecticut Developers Council, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Real Estate Finance Association. She has authored articles and lectured to other lawyers and developers on national and local land use issues.

Ms. Souchuns is admitted to the Connecticut Bar and the Federal District Court for the District of Connecticut. She graduated cum laude from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where she was a member of Catholic University Law Review, and earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross.

Significant Land Use Matters:

Obtained land use approvals for regional developer for mixed-use development featuring 650 residential units and ground floor retail in two high rise towers and historic renovation of 1920s Post Office building in downtown Stamford.

Representing regional developer with multiple land use approvals from municipal boards and agencies and in land use appeals in connection with redevelopment of 80 acres of brownfields and former industrial space into mixed use community with 4,000 residential units and over 500,000 square feet of retail, commercial and recreational space.

Procured land use approvals in several Connecticut municipalities for a national fast food chain expanding into the New England market.

Obtained land use approval for conversion of a vacant "big box" store into national self-storage facility.

Represented owner/developer of age-restricted residential community on Connecticut shoreline to obtain permits for its proposed wastewater treatment system in contested hearing before state environmental agency.

Advised contract purchaser of zoning issues related to its office building acquisition in Fairfield County.

Handled land use applications, including zone change, special exception, site plan, coastal area site plan and road relocation, for LEED-certified office and residential development adjacent to Stamford Transportation Center.

Assisted international investment bank with land use permitting for new $400 million office building and trading floor.

Worked with clients, non-profit agency and municipal staff and agency to implement and administer local zoning regulation mandating the inclusion of affordable housing units in all residential developments of 10 or more units.

Procured land use approvals for numerous residential developments, including high-rise luxury condominiums, townhome communities and multi-family rental properties.

Significant Litigation Matters:

Defending neighbor-led injunction action seeking to rescind national developer’s land use approvals for automotive facility in central Connecticut

Handled land use litigation for investment fund in easement dispute involving commercially used property in a shoreline municipality

Represented the City of Milford to obtain denial and revocation of administrative permits on the basis of the applicant’s fraud and misrepresentation to state agency (See In re Recycling Inc., DEEP App. # 200801014 & Recycling Inc. v. Klee, Docket No. HHB-CV15-6028562S)

Represented prospective residential purchasers in a specific performance action associated with their acquisition of a multi-million dollar home on Connecticut waterfront

Co-counsel in successful defense of land use approvals for an international retailer’s new store in Manchester (See Waverly Markets LLC v. Manchester Planning & Zoning Commission et al., 2015 WL 777151 (Conn. Super. Jan. 14, 2015).)

Co-counsel in the successful defense of the decision of town zoning board of appeals to deny a neighboring owner’s appeal from the issuance of a zoning permit for the operation of a veterinary clinic. (See Heim v. Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of New Canaan, 289 Conn. 709, 960 A2d 1018 (2008).)

Co-counsel representing alleged partially responsible parties sued by contributing partially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and state law to recover costs incurred in responding to soil and groundwater contamination allegedly caused by release of hazardous substances. (See Durham Manufacturing Co. v. Merriam Manufacturing Co., 128 F. Supp. 2d 97 (D. Conn. 2001) and 294 F. Supp. 2d 251 (D. Conn. 2003).)

Co-counsel in successful defense of the City of New Haven in action alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and Equal Protection Clause by residents of predominately African-American and Hispanic neighborhood who would be displaced by construction of a school in their neighborhood. (See Batiste v. City of New Haven, 239 F. Supp 2d 213 (D. Conn. 2002)).

Selected Presentations and Publications:

Panelist, What Every Administrative Law & Land Use Attorney Should Know: Tips, Tricks & Pitfalls, March 2015

Moderator, Connecticut Land Use Law for Municipal Land Use Agencies, Boards and Commissions, March 2015

Annual Legal Update, Connecticut Chapter of the American Planners Association, June 2014

Appellate Court Update, CBA Connecticut Legal Conference, June 2014

An Overview of the Renovation Permitting Process, Fairfield County Business Journal, May 8, 2014

Old Paint, New Laws: Achieving Effective Compliance with the Residential Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, 47 Cath. U. L. Rev. 1411 (1998) (cited by the National Law Journal’s "Worth Reading" Column, April 19, 1999)