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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2908 FILED ON: 12/21/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2692
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
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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 relative to economic development on the Mystic River.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2908 FILED ON: 12/21/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2692
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2692) (subject to Joint Rule 9
and Joint Rule 12) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation relative to the development of a
professional soccer stadium and a waterfront park on part of the Mystic River designated port
area. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to economic development on the Mystic River.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a certain
2parcel of land located at 173 Alford street situated partly in the city of Everett and partly in the
3city of Boston shall be removed from and not be considered to be within the boundaries or a part
4of the Mystic River designated port area pursuant to 310 C.M.R. 25 and 310 C.M.R. 9 or any
5other applicable law, rule or regulation; provided, however, that such removal shall only be for
6the purpose of converting the parcel into a professional soccer stadium and a waterfront park.
7The parcel consists of approximately 43.11 acres and is located on the southeasterly side of
8Alford street, on the southwesterly side of Dexter street and bounded southerly by the Mystic
9river and is more particularly described in a deed recorded in the land court department of the
10Middlesex southern district registry district as document No. 1554521 and recorded with the
11Middlesex southern district registry of deeds in book 56211, page 350 and also recorded in the
12land court department in the Suffolk county registry deeds as document No. 786425 and 2 of 3
13recorded in the Suffolk county registry of deeds in book 47428, page 145. Site redevelopment on
14the parcel shall be subject to licensing in accordance with 310 C.M.R. 9 as a nonwater-dependent
15use.
16 (b) If the professional soccer stadium and waterfront park fail to be permitted and
17constructed within a reasonable time after the effective date of this act, as determined by the
18secretary of energy and environmental affairs, then subsection (a) shall be void and the port area
19designation and corresponding use restrictions under 310 C.M.R. 25 and 310 C.M.R. 9 shall be
20restored to the parcel; provided, however, that such determination of a reasonable time period
21shall not be made sooner than 5 years after the effective date of this act.
22 Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt or alter the site’s obligations under
23chapter 91 of the General Laws or 310 C.M.R. 9 beyond designated port area-related use
24restrictions.
25 (c) The department of environmental protection, in consultation with the office of costal
26zone management, shall: (i) complete a review of existing designated port area criteria and use
27restrictions; and (ii) update relevant regulations based on the results of the review; provided,
28however, that updates to regulations shall include, but not be limited to: (A) the protection of
29traditional maritime industrial activities; (B) the addition of allowable uses consistent with future
30maritime industrial uses and clean energy activities; (C) the reevaluation of compatible uses
31within designated port areas; (D) a requirement, to the extent feasible, that all traditional and new
32allowed uses be resilient to coastal flood damage; (E) examining the feasibility of creating
33working port easements to purchase development rights from landowners in designated port
34areas; (F) opportunities to create grants and revolving loan funds to update port infrastructure, 3 of 3
35including conversion from 1 designated port area use to another designated port area use; (G)
36consideration of coastal flood resilience for inland neighborhoods; and (H) an assessment of new
37and adjacent areas that could be added to designated port areas to reduce net loss of acreage.
38 (d) Except for the boundary adjustment provided for in subsection (a), there shall be no
39boundary adjustments to designated port areas until the review required in subsection (c) is
40completed; provided, however, that the department and the office may continue to conduct
41boundary reviews.
42 (e) The commonwealth, having previously transferred control to, and taken on the behalf
43of the city of Boston a certain parcel of land situated in the city of Boston, being a part of a state
44highway location, Layout No. 5242 dated September 11, 1962, and shown as Parcel No. 8 in an
45Order of Taking recorded with said Layout No. 5242 in the Suffolk county registry of deeds in
46book 7681, page 307, and as shown on the plan filed therewith, and also shown as parcel
470201831001 on the city of Boston assessors’ maps, shall transfer, remise, and release to the city
48of Boston any interest the commonwealth may have in such parcel.