Bill > H4720

This bill allows the board of selectmen or select board in a town with a town meeting form of government to temporarily adopt zoning amendments to maintain compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program and incorporate updated flood hazard areas from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps. This can be done during the governor's state of emergency declaration related to COVID-19 and for 30 days after the termination of the state of emergency, without the usual requirement of town meeting approval. The planning board must hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments, and the board of selectmen or select board can then vote to adopt the amendments by a two-thirds majority. The effective date of any such zoning amendment would be the date of approval by the board of selectmen, and the time for review by the state attorney general would be shortened to 30 days.