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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1841 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 885
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)
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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 for Chapter 40B reform and improvement.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit N, Winchester MA
01890 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1841 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 885
By Mr. Lewis (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 885) of Vincent
Lawrence Dixon for legislation for Chapter 40B reform and improvement. Housing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 896 OF 2021-2022.]
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 for Chapter 40B reform and improvement.
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 I. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
2 following new chapter:
3 Chapter 40B Reform And Improvement (Providing for Important Environmental Impact
4Review, by local municipal bodies, and other appropriate adjustments).
5 SECTION II – PURPOSE
6 Chapter 40B provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws, have proven to be
7 controversial, and needing adjustments, and reform. This legislation is designed to
8provide such 2 of 3
9 appropriate reforms, and needed adjustments, while recognizing that various public
10policy concerns, including affordable housing needs remain, and need to be provided for.
11 SECTION III – REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW – AND STANDARDS
12 1.) All projects qualifying under Chapter 40B provisions, must still be reviewed, and
13 qualified by local municipal authorities, in regards to environmental impact, and
14Environmental
15 Impact Review reporting (EIR). No Chapter 40B project, may be exempted from
16environmental
17 review, and approval by the local municipality, in which it would be created, and
18constructed.
19 2.) All Chapter 40B projects, must conform to any conservation land, wetland, and
20 watershed protections; and approval of such projects, must include review by municipal
21 conservation commissions.
22 3.) Other relevant government bodies, including regional commissions, and housing
23 authorities, shall review any such projects.
24 4.) Comprehensive state planning, and coordination, must be referenced in terms of these
25 projects; including issues of neighborhood, and community-friendly developers; high-
26quality 3 of 3
27 lasting construction standards; and relevant modest, to medium intensity, regional transit
28options.