HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2911        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3397

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to streamline housing production through abutter appeals reform.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

1/16/2019

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

1/28/2019

Kevin G. Honan

17th Suffolk

1/29/2019

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

1/29/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Daniel J. Hunt

13th Suffolk

1/31/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/31/2019

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

1/31/2019

Thomas P. Walsh

12th Essex

1/31/2019

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

1/31/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

1/31/2019

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

2/1/2019

Peter Capano

11th Essex

2/1/2019

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2911        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3397

By Mr. McGonagle of Everett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3397) of Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr., and others relative to judicial review for persons aggrieved by decisions of boards of appeals or special permit granting authorities.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act to streamline housing production through abutter appeals reform.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 17 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:

The court, in its discretion, may require non-municipal plaintiffs in an action under this section to post a surety or cash bond in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to secure the payment of costs in appeals of decisions approving special permits, variances and site plans where the court finds that the harm to the defendants or to the public interest resulting from the delays of appeal outweighs the burden of the surety or cash bond on plaintiffs.  When making a decision regarding surety or cash bond requirements, the court may consider the relative merits of the appeal and the relative financial means of the appellant and the defendants.