Last Friday, Massachusetts’ “Unlocking Housing Production Commission,” established by Gov. Maura Healey in October, 2023, released its report titled “Building for Tomorrow.” The report lays out a series of recommendations to...more
NEW GUIDANCE ON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HOUSING PROPOSALS -
The Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) recently issued guidance for municipalities regarding housing development. This guidance...more
10/20/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Community Development ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Eviction ,
Foreclosure ,
Housing Developers ,
Moratorium ,
Municipalities ,
Permits ,
Real Estate Development ,
State of Emergency ,
Urban Planning & Development
On April 3, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, an Act To Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID-19. ...more
In a rescript opinion issued yesterday in Gentili v. Town of Sturbridge (pdf), the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled that a municipality’s acquisition of a prescriptive easement over private property is not an eminent domain...more
The merger doctrine is alive and well in Massachusetts zoning law. In its recent decision in Kneer v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Norfolk, the Appeals Court examined whether the doctrine applies to property owned by a realty...more
As municipalities assert more control over development, zoning bylaws become more complex. And as mechanics, programmers, and lawyers all know, when there are many parts, there are many more opportunities for things to go...more
Earlier this year, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued a relatively straightforward decision concerning heliports, home rule authority, and preemption – Roma, III, Ltd. v. Board of Appeals of Rockport....more
In its recent decision in 135 Wells Avenue, LLC v. Housing Appeals Committee (pdf), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) confirmed that a property restriction held by a municipality cannot be overridden by the...more
In a decision of interest to municipalities, conservation groups, and land use experts, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently decided that a public playground in the City of Westfield is parkland protected...more