Attorney Mike Zizka discussed his book, What’s Legally Required? A Guide to the Legal Rules for Making Local Land-Use Decisions at a recent meeting of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG). The reference guide, tailored to local planning, zoning, conservation and wetland commissioners, is a comprehensive guide to Connecticut land use laws and procedures.
Mike’s legal focus has been on issues related to government agencies and on the use and development of land. A trained geologist, Mike has mapped the glacial geology of the Columbia topographic quadrangle (an area of about fifty-five square miles) for the Connecticut DEP (now DEEP). He later spent five years as a hydrogeologist for DEP, where he helped dozens of municipalities and landowners analyze the potential consequences of different land uses.
With 38 years of legal experience, Mike has advised or represented sixty different Connecticut municipalities, as well as a host of private landowners, both as counselor and litigator in state and federal courts. As a municipal counselor, he has drafted groundbreaking regulations and ordinances on a wide variety of topics.
Mike is a frequent speaker and lecturer on land use and environmental topics. He is well known in the area for his widespread community theater activities and for his on-air fundraising appearances for CPTV and WNPR.