The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has promulgated new regulations intended to reduce nitrogen loading from septic systems in sensitive coastal estuaries and embayments in the Commonwealth, with an...more
On August 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published proposed amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule (50 CFR 224.105) to further protect...more
On June 2, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued its much-anticipated decision in Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. City of Waltham, SJC-13195, interpreting for the first time the statutory protection for...more
6/9/2022
/ Land Use Restrictions ,
MA Supreme Judicial Court ,
Municipalities ,
Power Infrastructure ,
Real Estate Development ,
Site Plans ,
Solar Energy ,
Solar Farm ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Maps
On December 15, 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released draft guidelines for the Commonwealth’s recently-adopted Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities. A public...more
In a ruling that could affect short-term rental owners and municipalities across Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court (Court) held in Styller v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Lynnfield, (June 7, 2021) that short-term...more
On April 3, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law “An Act to Address Challenges Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID-19” as Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020 (the Act). A copy...more
The US Supreme Court today issued its latest pronouncement on regulatory takings, Murr et. al, v. Wisconsin, et al. Justice Kennedy wrote for the Court, joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. The issue was...more
6/23/2017
/ Fifth Amendment ,
Just Compensation ,
Land Parcels ,
Murr v Wisconsin ,
Property Owners ,
Reasonable Expectations Test ,
Regulatory Takings ,
RLUIPA ,
SCOTUS ,
Takings Clause ,
Zoning Laws