Keith Richard recently prevailed in an appeal before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, sitting as the Law Court. Keith successfully overturned an adverse decision for the client in Superior Court, in an appeal that required supplemental briefing and oral argument.
In Hill v. Town of Wells, 2021 ME 38, the Court held that the Wells zoning board of appeals correctly denied an application for a variance to construct a residence within a wetlands setback. The decision, authored by Justice Connors, is a must-read for any land use, municipal, or environmental attorney in Maine. The decision is among the most comprehensive recent discussions of the intersection between local municipal land use and state environmental laws. The case will likely be an important precedent and reference point in the future.