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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Hi, Chris:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>My understanding of floating zones is they are a scheme that “floats” around up in the ether until the right set of circumstances occurs on the ground. Then they come down and take effect. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>One thing I wouldn’t worry about is if floating zones are “authorized” in the MA Zoning Act. As we are a home-rule state, all zoning authority is presumed to be derived locally, unless contradicted by either the MA constitution or statutes. So, you’d be looking for prohibitions in the Zoning Act, not authorizations. One place to look would be chapter 40A, section 4 Uniform Districts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Happy holidays,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Jeff Lacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Rural Planning Associates<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>896 Graves Road<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Conway, MA 01341<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>ruralplanningassociates@crocker.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>(413) 230-9693<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ryan, Christopher via MassPlanners<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, December 5, 2024 1:00 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Mass Planners' <massplanners@masscptc.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] Everything Old is New Again - Floating Zones<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rather than resuscitate Performance Zoning (sorry Lane Kendig) or Equity Planning (sorry Norm Krumholz), I thought it might be interesting to see if floating zones have any relevance today for specific applications.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First of all, does anyone know if this tool is explicitly permitted as per 40A?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If so, is anyone using it in MA?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I know it is used in Connecticut and NY but can’t find any MA examples.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>