[MassHistPres] Possible developer threat to LHDs: Bill S1428 / HD4331

[Jessica Rudden-Dube]

This Friday, March 27th the Massachusetts History Alliance is hosting
Conversations on the Commons (online) regarding the rewriting of
Massachusetts historic preservation legislation.

For anyone that was concerned about the proposed legislation (H.1428/S.4331-*An
Act relative to historic districts and commissions*) and its impact on
MGL40C/8D earlier this year, we encourage your attendance and participation.

Panelists will include Michael Steinitz from MHC, Jenn Doherty from Barrett
Planning Group, and Russ Feldman and Larry Spang of AIA MA Government
Affairs Committee.

Registration is free.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversations-on-the-commons-rewriting-historic-preservation-tickets-1985605798394


*Jessica Rudden-Dube*
Executive Director
Preservation Massachusetts
(617)723-3383 x103
jruddendube at preservationmass.org
www.preservationmass.org
6 Main Street Extension, Suite 613
Plymouth, MA 02360





On Thu, Jun 12, 2025 at 4:24 PM Johnstone, Michelle via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> Thank you for this alert. I have redlined the existing versions of 40 8
> (d) and 40 (C) (both attached) to make it easier to see the proposed
> changes to the legislation. I watched the recording of the Joint Committee,
> there was one person, the executive director of AIA MA, who testified in
> support of the Bill at around 1:33.
>
> Michelle H. Johnstone
> Senior Preservation Planner
> Executive Office of Economic Development | Planning & Regulatory Services
> Division
> City of Worcester | 455 Main Street, Rm 404, Worcester, MA 01608
> P: 508-799-1400 x31410
> C: 774-622-0695
> E: johnstonem at worcesterma.gov
> www.worcesterma.gov
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Hillary
> Hedges Rayport via MassHistPres
> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2025 2:54 PM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Possible developer threat to LHDs: Bill S1428
> / HD4331
>
> Caution: This email came from outside the City of Worcester. Do not click
> on links or open attachments unless you are sure you recognize the sender
> and you know the contents are safe.
>
>
>
> Thank you for the alert about Bill S1428 seeking changes to MGL 40 Section
> 8D. Looking up the Bill, I see it was scheduled for a hearing with the
> Joint Committee on Municipalities on June 10th. I scanned through the video
> of the hearing and didn't see any oral testimony for or against this Bill.
> The Committee will accept written testimony for 14 days after the hearing,
> so this presents an opportunity for concerned citizens to write to our
> legislators.
> The information of how to submit written testimony can be found here:
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5212/Video1__;!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj2HHB1U5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSE73YT7pQ$
> The email address for written testimony is:
> jointcommittee.municipalities&regionalgovernment at malegislature.gov
> Hope this helps. I will take a closer look at the content of the Bill.
>
> Regards,
> Hillary Hedges Rayport
>
>
> On 6/12/25, 2:05 PM, "masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:
> masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> on behalf of
> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu>"
> <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>
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> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
>
> 1. Re: Possible developer threat to LHDs (Sullivan, Charles M.) 2. Re:
> Possible developer threat to LHDs (Jared Eigerman)
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:51:38 +0000
> From: "Sullivan, Charles M." <csullivan at cambridgema.gov <mailto:
> csullivan at cambridgema.gov>>
> To: Dennis De Witt <dennis.j.dewitt at gmail.com <mailto:
> dennis.j.dewitt at gmail.com>>, MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Possible developer threat to LHDs
> Message-ID:
> <
> BLAPR09MB683545526BD8540C8DCB0F8BA374A at BLAPR09MB6835.namprd09.prod.outlook.com
> <mailto:
> BLAPR09MB683545526BD8540C8DCB0F8BA374A at BLAPR09MB6835.namprd09.prod.outlook.com
> >>
>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
>
> The House designation for this bill is HD 4331.
>
>
> ___________________________
> Charles Sullivan, Executive Director
> Cambridge Historical Commission
> 831 Massachusetts Avenue
> Cambridge, Mass. 02139
> 617 349-4684
>
>
>
>
> From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:
> masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>> On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt via
> MassHistPres
> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 10:39 PM
> To: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Possible developer threat to LHDs
>
>
> You should urgently be aware of S1428 a Senate bill that has been
> introduced in the Legislature, with an identical House counterpart (I don’t
> have its number). See
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428__;!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj2HHB1U5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSExaYa1LA$
> <
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428__;!!GolgDdAAPFHvrrz0!dX4iYk9y0jhxEVc5Nb2Bid6DSlM_3a-nK8fp5kNAadkVRp3Fw2UnyN5BQTFC2JML_Nv3gqAgUdwetknPaEDDKEw0nOKW4zdk$
> <
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428<https:/*urldefense.com/v3/__https:/malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428__;!!GolgDdAAPFHvrrz0!dX4iYk9y0jhxEVc5Nb2Bid6DSlM_3a-nK8fp5kNAadkVRp3Fw2UnyN5BQTFC2JML_Nv3gqAgUdwetknPaEDDKEw0nOKW4zdk$__;Lw!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj2HHB1U5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSEDDQ5ykw$
> >>
>
>
> I have just quickly scanned it, but it seems to have at least two purposes:
>
>
> 1) Create a standard MGL format for Demolition Delay bylaws that would
> have to be adopted under MGL40 Section 8D (Historical Commissions), rather
> than by home rule. It does allow 12-24 month delays, so the devil very much
> may be in the details. (And would it trump home rule by-laws?)
>
>
> 2) Amend MGL4Oc to Introduce a similar standardized Demolition Delay
> process for properties in LHDs — i.e. eliminating the ability to prevent
> demolition in an LHD.
>
>
> If I read (scan) this correctly, the second section may be a major 40c
> pro-developer loophole for which the first section may be a fig-leaf (he
> said, mixing his metaphors).
>
>
> It was introduced by Sen. Joanne Comerford (D), representing Hampshire,
> Worcester & Franklin. I do not see any cosponsors.
>
>
> Dennis De Witt
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> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:05:04 -0400
> From: Jared Eigerman <jeigerman at gmail.com <mailto:jeigerman at gmail.com>>
> To: Dennis De Witt <dennis.j.dewitt at gmail.com <mailto:
> dennis.j.dewitt at gmail.com>>
> Cc: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Possible developer threat to LHDs
> Message-ID:
> <CAJAHp-OgZzKz4ATECN4AmtngZwGFLdRY7uWKnuS-omdwHfLyAA at mail.gmail.com
> <mailto:CAJAHp-OgZzKz4ATECN4AmtngZwGFLdRY7uWKnuS-omdwHfLyAA at mail.gmail.com
> >>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
>
> Thank you for alerting us.
>
>
> I have no idea who or what is behind this bill, but, if passed as
> proposed, this statute;
> (1) could be interpreted as "impliedly" preempting (forbidding) every city
> and town from addressing historic preservation in any way whatsoever except
> through (a) the state's version of demo. delay. or (b) the state's newly
> limited Chapter 40C (Local Historic District) procedures, and
> (2) would make it effectively impossible for any city or town to stop the
> demolition of any historic building.
>
>
> Both (1) and (2) are radical changes to Massachusetts law, with, I
> believe, obviously huge practical implications. No matter what evils this
> bill is meant to correct, it goes way too far.
>
>
> - Jared Eigerman, Newburyport
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 12, 2025 at 9:08 AM Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres <
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>> wrote:
>
>
> > You should urgently be aware of S1428 a Senate bill that has been
> > introduced in the Legislature, with an identical House counterpart (I
> > don’t have its number). See
> > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428_
> > _;!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj2HHB1U5
> > od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSExaYa1LA$
> > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1428
> > __;!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj2HHB1U
> > 5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSExaYa1LA$ >
> >
> > I have just quickly scanned it, but it seems to have at least two
> > purposes:
> >
> > 1) Create a standard MGL format for Demolition Delay bylaws that would
> > have to be adopted under MGL40 Section 8D (Historical Commissions),
> > rather than by home rule. It does allow 12-24 month delays, so the
> > devil very much may be in the details. (And would it trump home rule
> > by-laws?)
> >
> > 2) Amend MGL4Oc to Introduce a similar standardized Demolition Delay
> > process for properties in LHDs — i.e. eliminating the ability to
> > prevent demolition in an LHD.
> >
> > If I read (scan) this correctly, the second section may be a major 40c
> > pro-developer loophole for which the first section may be a fig-leaf
> > (he said, mixing his metaphors).
> >
> > It was introduced by Sen. Joanne Comerford (D), representing
> > Hampshire, Worcester & Franklin. I do not see any cosponsors.
> >
> > Dennis De Witt
> > _______________________________________________
> > MassHistPres mailing list
> > MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
> > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshi
> > stpres__;!!LFBeBjl1XF97oaI!LRl9HFrs4Iic3e1y2liFyLcnsHQyAuobWnWOi8dLbGj
> > 2HHB1U5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSHUlcTCPQ$
> > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/massh
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> > j2HHB1U5od1PX8W9iR6tjSQlo670RgcI6xwp-4JgmPLrJtRSHUlcTCPQ$ >
> >
>
>
>
>
> --
> - Jared Eigerman
> jeigerman at gmail.com <mailto:jeigerman at gmail.com>
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