SECTION 1.  Section 9 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 20 of chapter 358 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by striking out the fifteenth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:–

Zoning ordinances or by-laws shall provide that a special permit granted under this section shall lapse within a specified period of time, not less than 3 years from the date of filing of such approval with the city or town clerk, which shall not include such time required to pursue or await the determination of an appeal referred to in section seventeen, from the grant thereof, if a substantial use thereof has not sooner commenced except for good cause, or in the cause of a permit for construction, if construction has not begun by such date except for good cause.