Section 30. (a) There shall be within each regional planning district created under this chapter or by special act, a technical assistance center for the delivery of coordinated, comprehensive, and continuing technical services to and among local governments for the purpose of expediting permitting.
The board of executive directors of the Massachusetts association of regional planning agencies shall develop a state-wide permitting model that municipalities may adopt. The model processes shall expedite local permitting and zoning consistent with chapter 43D.
The board shall direct each regional planning agency to conduct an evaluation of its member cities' and towns' permitting processes and to report its findings to the board. It shall be the responsibility of each regional planning agency to work under the guidance of the board to assist in the development of a state-wide model. The board shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than November 1, 2007, on recommendations necessary to implement the state-wide model proposed to effectuate such expedited permitting.
The regional planning districts shall, at the request of a member city or town, provide the city or town services and assistance to:—
(1) reduce unnecessary delays and create certainty and predictability as well as promote an efficient and timely appeals process;
(2) create a positive regulatory culture with a bias toward making decisions;
(3) conduct on-going staff training to address applicant questions;
(4) select sites for expedited permitting, while identifying potential issues, concerns, or problem areas;
(5) prepare applications for approval of the sites;
(6) establish clear criteria for determining the completeness of permit applications;
(7) update or eliminate conflicting, cumbersome, and redundant permit processes and procedures;
(8) examine and redraft zoning by-laws to aid in the balanced development of the community; and
(9) develop plans and incentives for residential and commercial development, while taking steps to mitigate the environmental and transportation impacts of new growth.
(b) A city or town shall not be required to receive technical assistance from a regional planning agency in order to participate in the expedited permitting process, pursuant to chapter 43D.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts
Chapter 40b - Regional Planning
Section 2 - Purpose of Chapter
Section 2a - Regional or District Groupings; Consent to Placement
Section 4 - District Planning Commissions; Membership; Employees; Meetings
Section 4a - Executive Committees; Establishment; Membership; Powers and Duties; Reports
Section 5 - Powers and Duties; Reports
Section 5a - Agreement for Water Favorability Studies
Section 5b - Economic Development Regional Commissions; Authorization to Act
Section 6 - Cooperation of State Agencies With Planning Commissions
Section 8 - Borrowing in Anticipation of Revenue From Member Municipalities
Section 9 - Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District; Establishment
Section 10 - Membership; Termination
Section 11 - Dissolution of Regional Planning Districts; Transitional Provisions; Procedure
Section 12 - Commission; Membership; Appointment; Term
Section 13 - Advisory Committee; Membership; Appointment; Term; Removal; Vacancies
Section 14 - Powers and Duties
Section 15 - Executive Officers; Committees; Meetings; Rules and Records; Expenses
Section 16 - Executive Director; Employees; Tenure; Compensation
Section 17 - Contracts; Expenditures and Obligations
Section 18 - Estimate of Costs; Fiscal Year; Assessment; Limitation; Payment; Reserve Funds; Audit
Section 19 - Data Exchange Between Agencies
Section 22 - Appeal to Housing Appeals Committee; Procedure; Judicial Review
Section 24 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Composition; Appointments; Vacancies
Section 26 - Establishment; Composition
Section 27 - Mutual Exchange of Data, Etc. Between Council and Other Governmental Agencies
Section 29 - Inter-Agency Agreements; Expenditures; Assessments; Gifts, Grants, etc.; Fund