Tag Archives: Zoning

SJC Reverses Appeals Court on Standing Requirements Under the Zoning Act – With Record Speed

Posted on March 11, 2020 by

All zoning conformities are alike, to rephrase Tolstoy’s famous opening line, but each zoning-related injury is injurious in its own way. Such has been the time-honored tenant of Massachusetts law for abutter standing under the Zoning Act.  To successfully challenge … Continue reading →

Posted in Zoning | Tagged , ,

Appeals Court Revisits Adverse Possession of Undeveloped Land

Posted on May 4, 2016 by

The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently reviewed adverse possession of wild and wooded areas. In Paine v. Sexton, 88 Mass. App. Ct. 389 (2015), the Plaintiff campground operators asserted rights to property based on record title and adverse possession.  While it … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Environmental, Open Space, Wetlands, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mirick O’Connell Hosts “Building the Boroughs+” Workshop On Improving Downtowns

Posted on May 27, 2015 by

Attorneys Art Bergeron and yours truly hosted a workshop for community leaders at the firm’s Westborough office on May 7th to share ideas and lessons learned on building and improving the downtowns in the Boroughs+ region.  The program reflected a … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Economic Development, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Lesson From Somerville: Better Zoning Promotes Economic Growth

Posted on June 18, 2014 by

Paul McMorrow wrote an interesting column in yesterday’s Boston Globe that deserves reading, particularly for those interested in crafting workable zoning codes and bylaws in our cities and towns.  The current zoning process in most Massachusetts communities, even for simple … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Economic Development, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Towns Can’t Ban Marijuana Shops; Zoning Moratoria OK

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

Towns and cities may not use zoning to ban marijuana shops, according to a recent ruling by the Attorney General’s Office. Zoning Ban Struck Down As noted in a previous post, municipal officials have been considering zoning provisions aimed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Municipal, Town Meeting, Uncategorized, Westborough, Zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pending Legislation Would Dramatically Reform Massachusetts Land Use Law

Posted on February 19, 2013 by

The latest effort to overhaul Massachusetts land use law is backed by a coalition of planning, environmental and housing organizations. “An Act Promoting the Planning and Development of Sustainable Communities”, House Bill # 1859, was introduced on Beacon Hill last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Environmental, Municipal, Zoning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Southborough Grappling with Open Space Concerns in Proposed Zoning Bylaw

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

We have been tracking Southborough’s ongoing efforts to update and modernize its Zoning Bylaw for many months here at the Mirick Real Estate Law Blog.  See previous posts here, here, here and here.  As reported recently in the MetroWest Daily … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Open Space, Southborough, Town Meeting, Zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

SJC Again Rebuffs Local Attempts to Control 40B Low-Income Housing Developments

Posted on February 4, 2013 by

Zoning Board of Appeals of Sunderland v. Sugarbush Meadow, LLC is the Supreme Judicial Court’s (SJC) latest snub to municipal attempts to control the development of low income housing.  Despite testimony from the Town’s Fire Chief that the Town lacks … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Appeals Court Ruling Promotes Expedited Resolution of Land Use Disputes

Posted on January 4, 2013 by

In 2006, then-Governor Mitt Romney signed into law “An Act Relative to Streamlining and Expediting the Permitting Process in the Commonwealth.”  The Act created a designated “permit session” in the Land Court designed to handle all permit-related litigation involving large … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Municipal, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Southborough Releases Comparison Showing Proposed Zoning By-Law Changes

Posted on September 18, 2012 by

After much delay and not without some controversy, the Town of Southborough has released a comparison of its new proposed Zoning By-Law showing the changes from the existing By-Law.  The 119-page comparison document is available on the Town’s website here.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Southborough, Town Meeting, Zoning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

MWDN: Potential Zoning Change for Mixed Use of Old HP Site in Marlborough

Posted on September 11, 2012 by

The MetroWest Daily News reports that the new owner of the long-vacant Hewlett Packard facility on Forest Street in Marlborough is seeking a re-zoning of the property that would allow a mixed use development.  Atlantic Management purchased the old HP … Continue reading →

Posted in Economic Development, Marlborough, MetroWest, Zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

UPDATE: Vote on Southborough Zoning Overhaul Delayed to January Special Town Meeting

Posted on August 6, 2012 by

As an update to our previous posts here and here, the MetroWest Daily News is reporting that the Town of Southborough has pushed out a vote on the pending zoning overhaul from October to a special Town Meeting in January.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Municipal, Open Space, Southborough, Town Meeting, Zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment