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December 08, 2025 Clouds | 34°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
  3. Title VII CITIES, TOWNS AND DISTRICTS
  4. Chapter 43D EXPEDITED PERMITTING
  5. Section 3 Formal proposal for designation as priority development site; technical assistance grants

Section 3

Section 3: Formal proposal for designation as priority development site; technical assistance grants

[ Text of section effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.]

  Section 3. (a) For a property to receive a designation as a priority development site, the governing body, after approval by a town meeting in a town, shall file a formal proposal with the board. The proposal shall include: (1) a detailed description of the property; (2) good faith commitment to comply with this chapter; (3) written authorization of the property owner; and (4) at the discretion of the governing body, a request for a technical assistance grant.

  (b) All requests for a technical assistance grant shall include a detailed description of how the grant will be used and shall be submitted with the formal proposal as described in subsection (a). The grants shall be used to implement the requirements of this chapter, which shall include but not be limited to, professional staffing assistance, local government reorganization, and consulting services. The amount of any single grant awarded from the fund, shall not exceed $150,000. The board shall review and determine eligibility of the proposals and approve requests within 60 days of receipt of the proposals. In special circumstances where a specific and originally unforeseen need can be demonstrated, the governing body may be eligible for an additional technical assistance grant if approved by the board and the secretary.

Chapter 43D: Section 3. Formal proposal for designation as priority development site; criteria

[ Text of section as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 177 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.]

  Section 3. (a) A governing body seeking designation of a priority development site shall file a formal proposal with the permit regulatory office. If the proposal includes an intention to develop housing within the priority development site, the governing body shall provide a copy of the proposal to the secretary of housing and livable communities. The proposal shall include: (i) a detailed description of the property; (ii) a good faith commitment to comply with this chapter; (iii) a description of the uses that could be developed within the priority development site; and (iv) such other information as the secretary shall, after consultation with the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, the secretary of housing and livable communities and the secretary of transportation, require by regulation or guidelines.

  (b) The secretary shall by regulation or guidelines establish the criteria for designating priority development sites. These criteria shall include a preference for areas that include at least 1 of the following: (i) underutilized buildings or facilities; (ii) adequate utilities for the types of development anticipated to occur; (iii) convenient access to a public transit station; or (iv) areas in which electric grid capacity can satisfy new all electric building. Priority development sites shall not include areas containing highly sensitive natural resources or areas in which development would be at significant risk from rising sea levels or other flood risk caused or exacerbated by climate change.