<div dir="ltr"><div>Hi Ken!</div><div>I hope all is well with you. It has been the position in Easthampton that there is no limitation to the amount of time that a hearing can stay open (with proper acknowledgments throughout the process on extension requests and continuances to date certain) as long as the board is not just continuing as a delay tactic. Once the board has all of the required submittals and all the extra information that they have requested and all public comment has been heard then the board must deliberate and/or close the hearing.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Massachusetts APA Land Use Law Guidebook:</div><div>Section 4-32, "Zoning - Action Date Timelines", Subsection 3.1, Note A4:</div><div style="margin-left:40px">While there is no statutory limit to the duration of the public hearing, unjustified continuances of the hearing for no valid evidentiary purpose have led courts to find the hearing has actually “closed” as of the date of the last evidentiary session, resulting in a constructive approval for failing to make and file the decision within the 90 days prescribed.</div><br><div>Section 4-27 "Comprehensive Permit", subsection 8.3:<br></div><div style="margin-left:40px">PUBLIC HEARING – CONTINUANCE – The hearing may be continued for a reasonable period if additional time is needed to address substantive questions. Though the board should not close a hearing before it has received all information necessary to make a sound decision, repeated continuances can raise due process concerns. If the applicant believes that the hearing has been extended so long and unnecessarily that the delay constitutes a constructive denial of the permit, the applicant may appeal to the HAC.</div><div><br></div><div>I hope this helps!</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Jamie Webb<br></div>Senior Planner<br>City of Easthampton - Planning Department<br>50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027<br>413.529.1405 / <a href="https://easthamptonma.gov/176/Planning" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Easthampton-Planning-Department-380076865424358" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br><i><font size="1">Please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State considers e-mail to be a public record subject to the provisions of the MA Public Records Law, MGL ch. 66.
</font></i></div></div></div><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 1:54 PM Comia, Ken via MassPlanners <<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg7735371020392590810">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Planners,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure if there’s guidance out there regarding the length of time a special permit public hearing item can stay open. Knowing MGL has its requirements for when hearings are to be convened and decisions to be rendered, are there guidelines
on how long a public hearing can stay open with proper acknowledgments throughout the process on extension requests and continuances to date certain? Is there a practice regarding this?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Any insight will be greatly appreciated.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ken<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Kenneth Comia, AICP <u></u>
<u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span>Deputy Director, Land Use and Environment Department<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt">Pioneer Valley Planning Commission<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">60 Congress Street – Floor 1<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Springfield, MA 01104<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">p: 413-285-1175 | e:
<a href="mailto:kcomia@pvpc.org" target="_blank">kcomia@pvpc.org</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">w: <a href="http://www.pvpc.org/" target="_blank">
pvpc.org</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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