Timothy C. Twardowski

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Timothy Twardowski focuses his practice on land use policy, development permitting, and real estate. He is a member of the firm's Land Use and Real Estate + Development Groups.

    Development Permitting

    Tim regularly assists property owners and developers in analyzing and obtaining requisite land use and development approvals from local governments. He has appeared in front of local Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeal throughout eastern Massachusetts and in Rhode Island.

    He represents a national wireless communications provider in permitting matters, and has assisted the client in securing approvals for the installation or modification of wireless telecommunications facilities in dozens of Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities.

    Land Use Policy and Legislation

    Tim advises a national real estate trade association on state and local land use and real estate-related initiatives and trends across the country. He has prepared analyses of more than 200 state and local legislative proposals nationwide, including land use development codes, impact fees, inclusionary housing, eminent domain, and short-term rental restrictions.

    He also has prepared industry-sponsored legislation on real estate issues, including private transfer fees, eminent domain, homeowner associations, adequate water supply, and tenant opportunity to purchase property. He was part of a team that prepared real estate industry sponsored bills to amend the Massachusetts Zoning Act.

    Prior to joining the firm, Tim was the assistant city attorney for Park City, Utah, where he regularly advised the city's Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Board, and Community Development Department.

    Tim is active in the community. He has served on the Town of Franklin Master Plan Committee and Public Land Use Committee, and is a former member of the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He has helped lead firm efforts to assist Greater Boston Legal Services, which provides free legal services in civil matters to disadvantaged residents.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Represents a national wireless communications provider in permitting matters and has successfully assisted the client in securing the requisite approvals for the installation or modification of wireless telecommunications facilities in dozens of Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. 

      • Advised the Town of West Warwick, Rhode Island in establishing a redevelopment agency, designating a redevelopment area, and developing a redevelopment plan.

      • Assisted property owner in obtaining zoning and environmental permits for the renovation of an historic oceanfront property in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.

      • Represented property owner in obtaining a special permit for the alteration and restoration of a nonconforming single-family home in the Beverly Farms neighborhood in Beverly, Massachusetts.

      • Successfully represented property owner in application for special permits to alter a nonconforming structure and to convert an existing single-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
      • Represented the manufacturer of aggregate-based construction materials in the United States and United Kingdom, in drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreement and all other sale documentation for 74,000 square feet of property in Worcester, Massachusetts, to CSX Transportation, Inc. Concurrently with that negotiation, handled client’s defense and all responses to eminent domain proceedings initiated by CSX through Department of Public Utilities to ensure that property acquisitions for new depot facility in Worcester would occur in a timely manner. Also represented property owner with drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreement and all other sale documentation for 50,000 square feet of land in Saugus, Massachusetts, to Melrose Storage Facility. In addition, handled defense of zoning enforcement action for temporary storage uses during pendency of sale.

      • Obtained all approvals on behalf of client, a subdivision developer, and successfully defended approved subdivision before Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and before Land Court, in an abutter appeal on title issues concerning implied easement for subdivision access road.

      • Assists with representation of the National Association of Realtors® as national land use development/real estate consultant in preparation of analyses of proposed state and local land use and real estate-related legislation and regulations affecting the real estate industry. Assists with preparation of client-sponsored state legislation on real estate-related issues, such as private transfer fees, eminent domain, and historic preservation, leading to the adoption of legislation in more than 30 states.

    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      Massachusetts Bar Association
      Real Estate Law Section Council (2010 - Present)

      Boston Bar Association
      Member
      Former Co-Chair, Land Use & Development Committee

      Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts
      Land Use and Zoning Law Committee
      Legislation Committee

      Rhode Island Bar Association
      Member
      Rhode Island Bar Journal, Editorial Board (2010 - 2013)

      Greater Boston Real Estate Board
      Member, Governmental Affairs Committee
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Recognized by Boston magazine as a Top Lawyer in 2022 and 2021. 

      Selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Land Use and Zoning Law for 2023 and 2024 and in the area of Real Estate Law for 2024.

    • Community Involvement

      Community Involvement

      Town of Franklin, Public Land Use Committee
      Chair (2009 - 2013)

      Town of Franklin, Zoning Board of Appeals
      Former Member

      Town of Franklin, Master Plan Committee
      Former Member
  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      "Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings - 2022 Supplement," The original chapter was first published in June 2017 in A Practical Guide to Land Use Law in Rhode Island (August 2022)
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      "Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings," published in A Practical Guide to Land Use Law in Rhode Island (June 2017)
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      "Energy Benchmarking Ordinances: Coping with the New Mandate on Retail Owners and Tenants," published in Retail Law Strategist, co-authored with Brian W. Blaesser (Spring 2015)
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      "Chapter 40B cases address the regional need for affordable housing standard," published in Massachusetts Lawyers Journal (March 2013)
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      "Trusts," co-author, 2008 supplement, published in MCLE Real Estate Title Practice in Massachusetts (June 2008)

      "The Evolving Landscape of Easement Relocation after M.P.M. Builders," co-authored with E. Christopher Kehoe (vol. 9, no. 2, 2007)

      "Building an Addition onto Your House? Know about 'Variances'," published in Exhibit A, co-authored with E. Christopher Kehoe (5/2007)

      "Retail Space for Lease? Chain Stores Need Not Apply," parts 1 and 2, co-authored with Brian W. Blaesser (12/2006 & 1/2007), published in Retail Law Strategist (12/15/2006)

    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Planning & Zoning for REALTORS® and Staff," co-presented with Michael S. Giaimo, at the 2021 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, hosted by the National Association of REALTORS® (11/11/2021)
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      "From Vacant to Vibrant," at the 2020 REALTORS® Conference & Expo hosted by the National Association of REALTORS®. (11/2/2020)
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      "Short-term Rental Regulation in Boston – Lessons Learned from the First Year," presented as the first program in the 2020 "From Soil to Solar: Land Law Development Forum" (2/27/2020)
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      "Speed Networking with Real Estate Lawyers," co-presented with Matthew J. Lawlor, at the Boston Bar Association-hosted event. (11/18/2019)
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      "Zoning Due Diligence, Zoning Opinions & Use of Zoning Endorsements," addressed various perspectives of zoning and its due diligence at an open meeting of the Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association's Commercial Real Estate Finance Section in Boston (3/6/2019)

      "Navigating Boston Permitting," moderator for Boston Bar Association CLE seminar (2/7/2018)
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      "Lynnfield Proposes New Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals Like Airbnb," guest speaker on WBUR radio program, hosted by Deborah Becker (10/3/2016)
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    • News

      R+C in the News

      • December 13, 2022

        Boston Magazine Names Six R+C Lawyers as Top Lawyers 2022

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      • December 13, 2021

        Boston Magazine Names Seven R+C Lawyers as a Top Lawyer 2021

      • March 25, 2019

        Tim Twardowski Presents to Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association

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      • February 9, 2018

        Tim Twardowski Moderates CLE Program on Boston Permitting

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      • June 23, 2017

        Two Robinson+Cole Lawyers Contribute to Rhode Island Land Use Book

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      • October 14, 2016

        Tim Twardowski Speaks on Boston's NPR Station

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      • April 10, 2015

        Real Estate and Development Lawyers Co-Author Article on Energy Benchmarking Ordinances

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      • May 10, 2013

        Tim Twardowski Pens Article for Massachusetts Lawyers Journal

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      • July 11, 2012

        Greater Boston Legal Services Honors Robinson & Cole Associates

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      • December 2, 2010

        National Association of Realtors Honors LandLaw Partner and Firm

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      • March 5, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorneys Coauthor Chapter in Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Book

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      R+C News Releases

      • August 17, 2023

        78 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024

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      • August 18, 2022

        74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

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      • December 11, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners

      • December 11, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Elects Four New Partners and Promotes Six Counsel

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    • Legal Updates/Newsletters

      Legal Updates/Newsletters

      "Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities" co-authored with Jessica D. Bardi, Michael S. Giaimo, Matthew J. Lawlor and Kurt S. Stiegel (2/2/2022)

      "Supreme Judicial Court: Short-Term Rentals Not Consistent with Single-Family Residential Zoning" co-authored with Kristen E. Spirou and Michael S. Giaimo (6/22/2021)

      "An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID-19" co-authored with Jessica D. Bardi, Michael S. Giaimo and Matthew J. Lawlor (4/13/20)