Bill > H2249

This bill requires that any major construction project occurring within 1,500 feet of a municipal border must establish a buffer zone between the two municipalities to prevent potential harm to the neighboring municipality. The bill defines a "major construction project" as any public or private construction costing over $5,000,000, road or highway construction, or bridge construction over navigable or tidal waters. The buffer zone can include various types of open spaces such as parks, gardens, trails, wetlands, or specifically protected areas with restrictions on resource use and development. The purpose of this buffer zone is to create a protective space that mitigates potential negative impacts of large-scale construction projects on adjacent municipalities, ensuring that development in one town does not adversely affect the environmental, aesthetic, or functional characteristics of a neighboring town. This legislation adds a new section (Section 70) to Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws, providing a framework for inter-municipal construction planning and environmental protection.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2249