Bill > H2112

This bill aims to streamline the process for approving affordable housing projects by transferring the authority for reviewing and issuing "comprehensive permits" from a board of zoning appeals to a planning board. A comprehensive permit is a single permit that allows developers to bypass multiple local zoning regulations when building affordable housing under Chapter 40B of Massachusetts General Laws. The bill specifies timelines for planning boards to hold public hearings and make decisions on these permit applications, with a provision that failure to act within the allotted time will be considered a grant of the permit. It also clarifies the definition of "parties in interest" who must be notified of hearings and applications, and outlines the procedures for appealing decisions made by the planning board to the court. The bill also introduces requirements for recording the comprehensive permit in the registry of deeds and sets a time limit for when a permit lapses if substantial construction hasn't begun.