Stephanie Kiefer
Of Counsel
skiefer@smolakvaughan.com
(978) 682-5220

About Stephanie

education

Vermont Law School, M.S.E.L., magna cum laude
Boston University School of Law, J.D.,
Ohio University, B.A. and B.S, summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts
Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Biography

Stephanie’s legal practice is focused on environmental, land use and zoning law, together with associated permitting and appeals. Over the course of her 25 year career, she has advised and represented corporate, non-profit and individual clients regarding wetland permitting, sewer and septic review and permitting, traditional zoning/subdivision and alternative zoning schemes under M.G.L. c.40B and 40R and has represented clients faced with liabilities associated with oil or hazardous materials under Chapter 21E and its federal counterpart, CERCLA.  Stephanie has also served as special environmental counsel in real estate conveyancing with respect to limitations of liabilities as well as rehabilitation of existing degraded sites.

With the majority of Stephanie’s development work focused on permitting, she also advances associated appeals, before administrative tribunals as well as trial and appellate courts, to defend permits and/or challenge permit denials or conditions.

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Practice Areas

  • Land Use Development, Zoning and Permitting
  • Affordable & Multifamily Housing
  • Administrative Housing and Environmental Appeals
  • Environmental Permitting and Compliance
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Representative Experience

  • Represented developers in permitting mixed office/retail/residential development, inclusive of affordable housing and affordable commercial components, located near public transportation center, with associated project benefits to improve the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.  
  • Successfully litigated continuation of non-conforming commercial use of portion of larger commercial enterprise.
  • Represented developers in permitting affordable housing development with wetland and floodplain concerns, through appellate courts and successfully permitted revised development on the site under new ownership.
  • Permitting and compliance for wastewater treatment plant construction, operation and permit transfer.