Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40B § 22

Current through Chapter 223 of the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 40B:22 - Appeal to housing appeals committee; procedure; judicial review

Whenever an application filed under the provisions of section twenty-one is denied, or is granted with such conditions and requirements as to make the building or operation of such housing uneconomic, the applicant shall have the right to appeal to the housing appeals committee in the executive office of housing and livable communities for a review of the same. Such appeal shall be taken within twenty days after the date of the notice of the decision by the board of appeals by filing with said committee a statement of the prior proceedings and the reasons upon which the appeal is based. The committee shall forthwith notify the board of appeals of the filing of such petition for review and the latter shall, within ten days of the receipt of such notice, transmit a copy of its decision and the reasons therefor to the committee. Such appeal shall be heard by the committee within twenty days after receipt of the applicant's statement. A stenographic record of the proceedings shall be kept and the committee shall render a written decision, based upon a majority vote, stating its findings of fact, its conclusions and the reasons therefor within thirty days after the termination of the hearing, unless such time shall have been extended by mutual agreement between the committee and the applicant; provided, however, that the committee shall provide notice to the secretary of any such extension or other failure to perform action by the deadlines set forth in this section and the reason for such delay; provided further, that the secretary shall annually, not later than November 1, submit to the governor and the joint committee on housing a summary of such delays including, but not limited to:

(i) any deadlines missed pursuant to this section for each applicable appeal;

(ii) the reason for any such delay;

(iii) the total number of days, from the date of the committee's receipt of the applicant's statement of the prior proceedings, in which the committee ultimately issued a written decision or, if such appeal is in progress at the time the report is submitted, the projected number of days beyond the deadlines listed herein as may be necessary for the committee to issue a decision; and

(iv) the board that issued the denial or conditions and requirements being appealed by the applicant. Such decision may be reviewed in the superior court in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty A.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40B, § 40B:22

Amended by Acts 2024, c. 150,§ 15, eff. 8/6/2024.

Amended by Acts 2023 , c. 7, § 159, eff. 6/3/2023.