u/Illustrious-Ask1779

▲ 29 r/SalemMA

They snuck provisions into the 'Mass Ready Act' that let developers skip local flood & water protections

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

https://massready-act.vercel.app

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

https://massready-act.vercel.app

reddit.com
u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago

They snuck provisions into the 'Mass Ready Act' that let developers skip local flood & water protections

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

reddit.com
u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago

Is anyone here following the state environmental bond bill (S.3064, the "Mass Ready Act")?

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

reddit.com
u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago

They snuck provisions into the 'Mass Ready Act' that let developers skip local flood & water protections

Is anyone here following the state environmental bond bill (S.3064, the "Mass Ready Act")?

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

reddit.com
u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago
▲ 6 r/Marblehead+1 crossposts

They snuck provisions into the 'Mass Ready Act' that let developers skip local flood & water protections

Is anyone here following the state environmental bond bill (S.3064, the "Mass Ready Act")?

It mostly does good things, but it picked up some amendments in the Senate that would:

- let certain housing projects bypass local wetlands and septic rules (the ones that keep building out of floodplains and protect drinking water),

- reduce state grant funding for towns that keep those stronger local protections, and

- weaken the rules on rat poisons that are killing hawks and owls.

It's in the House Ways & Means Committee right now. I'm genuinely torn — I want more housing, but letting projects skip flood and water protections seems like the wrong way to get there, especially in a town like ours that deals with flooding.

Curious whether folks here have been following it or have thoughts. (I found a page that breaks down the exact sections and makes it easy to email the committee — I'll put the link in a comment so this isn't a link post.)

reddit.com
u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago
▲ 131 r/SalemMA+1 crossposts

Developer promised public trails to win the old Salem State South Campus, now says they're "not feasible"

Posting because the next hearing is June 16 and not many people seem to know what happened with the old Salem State South Campus (now branded "Forest River Residences").

To win the bid for that public land, the developer (AvalonBay + WinnDevelopment) promised accessible walking trails and overlooks through the Forest River woods. They drew them right on their own site plan, switchbacks and all.

At the May 19 Conservation Commission hearing, their rep told the Commission those same trails are now "not feasible" to build. The land hasn't changed since they drew it. A commissioner called it a bait-and-switch, and the hearing got continued to June 16.

You can see the developer's own site plan next to the RFP language here:

https://salem-forest-river-advocacy.vercel.app

The Commission can still require them to build what they proposed. Showing up or emailing before June 16 is what makes that happen.

u/Illustrious-Ask1779 — 2 days ago