1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2181 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2249
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bruce J. Ayers
_________________
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 protecting neighboring communities from deleterious construction.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2181 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2249
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2249) of Bruce
J. Ayers relative to certain construction projects occurring in municipalities within 1,500 feet of a
border of another municipality. Municipalities and Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2020 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act protecting neighboring communities from deleterious construction.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section:-
3 Section 70. Any major construction project occurring in a municipality within 1,500 feet
4of another municipalities’ border shall contain an area of land between the 2 municipalities to
5provide for a buffer zone to prevent harm to a neighboring municipality from another
6municipalities’ allowance of major construction. For the purposes of this section the term major
7construction project shall mean any public or private construction totaling in excess of
8$5,000,000, road or highway construction or erection of any bridge over navigable or tidal
9waters. 2 of 2
10 The buffer zone shall include, but not be limited to: parks, gardens, trails, wetlands open
11space, or a specific protected area, where restrictions on resource use and development measures
12are undertaken in order to enhance the open space or conservation use of the protected area.