SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3215        FILED ON: 9/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2617

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

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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 granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3215        FILED ON: 9/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2617

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act granting the city of Worcester the authority to require the adoption of institutional master plans.

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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Worcester may adopt local general or zoning ordinances to promote and facilitate the development of large- scale institutional facilities in the city of Worcester. The legislation authorizes the city of Worcester to require the adoption of an Institutional Master Plan as described below in Section 2. An Institutional Master Plan is a land-use and development plan for land owned or used by an institution within a community, that identifies existing and future growth and development of the institution. The master plan enables the community to ensure development impacts are addressed through the public review and adoption of the master plan.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding G. L. c. VA, § 3 or any general or special law to the contrary, the city of Worcester may adopt a general or zoning ordinance imposing Institutional Master Plan review to regulate the use of land or structures for land owned, leased, or otherwise occupied by institutions such as hospitals, health care institutions, colleges, universities, and non-profit educational corporations. In the event the city of Worcester authorizes such a use by special permit, it may provide that such special permits shall expire and be renewed after 10 years and may also require that any such institution in existence at the time of such adoption shall be required to apply for such special permit within 120 days of the adoption of the local zoning ordinance.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.