In an era marked by increasing awareness of environmental issues, the preservation of wetlands and other natural resources has become a vital concern. The interaction between human development and fragile ecosystems necessitates careful oversight and regulation. This...
If you want to build a new playhouse for your children or to add on a new structure to your home, it’s important to know about the city’s zoning requirements and permits. Although you may think it would be as easy as building the structure on your property and moving...
There are many real estate developers in the Boston area who understand how frustrating and time-consuming the process can be. There are many levels of government that property developers need to go through, and projects can take many years to complete.A recent news...
Boston area property developers are used to the many issues that can come up during their project. From variances to real estate permits to nonconforming structures, there is always something that needs to be figured out. Nonconforming uses is a common issue for many...
A couple weeks ago, it was reported that the Town of Barnstable will be added to the list of Massachusetts communities transitioning to online permit applications. Barnstable approved the $200K+ expenditure to pay for the software and related maintenance that will...
When it comes to development permits, one of the most crucial considerations is to provide for lawful, adequate ingress and egress to existing adjacent streets. Vehicular access to streets-including via new roads, residential driveways and commercial parking lots-is...
In 2006, the Massachusetts Legislature created the "Permit Session" of the Land Court to allow a more expedited appeal process for development projects that meet certain build-out thresholds. So long as the underlying project involves either twenty-five (25) or more...
Though the special permit process is governed by both the Massachusetts Zoning Act (M.G.L. c. 40A) and local zoning bylaws and ordinances, the procedure for appeals of special permit decisions are set forth in M.G.L. c. 40A § 17.When a special permit application...
