Framingham Mayor Nominates Attorney For Zoning Board of Appeals

FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer is nominating a lawyer from District 8 to serve on the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is a quasi-judicial board whose role is to interpret the Framingham Zoning Bylaw in appeals of denied building permits or other determinations of the Building Commissioner and hear petitions for Special Permits and Variances subject to the requirements of Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A.

Mitchell Matorin is a practicing attorney with 27 years of government and private practice, and lives in the southwest section of Framingham.

His legal training and experience in understanding and applying complex laws while balancing various interests will be an asset to the Zoning Board of Appeals, wrote Mayor Spicer in her letter to the 11-member City Council.

The City Council has 30 days to approve or reject the nomination. If no action is taken, he will automatically become a member of the ZBA.

Matorin is nominated to serve on the ZBA as an Associate member, effective through June 30, 2021.

The ZBA is comprised of seven total seats including three voting members and four associate members. Under the City bylaw, three associate members of the ZBA serve as the “Sign Review Board.”

“I am an attorney with over 27 years of government and private practice. I moved from Needham to Framingham in 2017, where I intend to remain. I have enjoyed getting to know the people of Framingham and I am excited by the prospects for this vibrant and up-and-coming area. I would now like to get more involved in helping the City’s ongoing efforts to build a future that matches its geographic and social potential as both a center of
economic development and a family-friendly place to live,” wrote Matorin in his letter to the City of Framingham.

I believe that my extensive legal training will prove an asset to the ZBA. I have decades of experience understanding and applying complex laws and balancing various interests to achieve satisfactory outcomes. At the same time, my practice has not focused on zoning matters, so I would approach issues with a fresh eye and without bias or favoritism. I am a team-oriented person and will strive for consensus wherever possible. I think that my background, personality, and style would be a good “fit” for the ZBA, and I look forward to making the commitment,” wrote Matorin.